DETERMINATION OF NEUTRON DETECTORS SHIELD USED FOR THE DETECTION OF LANDMINES

Abstract

As a result of being hydrogenous moderators, several landmine detection methods based onnuclear techniques have been suggested in recent years. Because of elastic scattering and moderating neutrons from hydrogen atoms in landmines, detection of backscattered neutron shows an anomaly in the reflected thermal neutrons count when a detector scans over a mine. On landmine detection using neutron sources, a detector and its shielding play an important role. In this paper, based on the investigations and calculations performed by MCNP code (Monte Carlo N-Particle transport code), detector shielding materials and their thicknesses have been determined. Therefore, the effects of moderators such as graphite, heavy water, beryllium, polyethylene and boric acid on backscattered neutron flux have been investigated.