title: Measured neutron and gamma spectra from californium-252 in a tissue-equivalent medium.
abstract: A method of experimentally obtaining both neutron and gamma-ray spectra in a scattering medium is described. The method utilizes a liquid-organic scintillator (NE-213) coupled with a pulse-shape discrimination circuit. This allows the separation of the neutron-induced pulse-height data from the gamma-ray pulse-height data. Using mathematical unfolding techniques, the two sets of pulse-height data were transformed to obtain the neutron and gamma-ray energy spectra. A small spherical detector was designed and constructed to reduce the errors incurred by attempting spectral measurements in a scattering medium. Demonstration of the utility of the system to obtain the neutron and gamma-ray spectra in a scattering medium was performed by characterizing the neutron and gamma-ray spectra at various sites about a 3.7-microgram (1.5 cm active length) californium-252 source in a tissue-equivalent medium.
mesh_terms: D002142:Californium; D003201:Computers; D005720:Gamma Rays; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009502:Neutrons; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002142:Californium