Current-mode neutron time-of-flight detectors (e.g., a scintillator and photomultiplier tube) are frequently used as sensitive detectors for laser fusion neutron yield measurements. For very low yields, as in the measurement of secondary (dt) neutrons from deuterium targets, some subtle effects involving limited statistical samples and the broad ‘‘pulse-height distribution’’ of a neutron sensitive scintillator arise. These effects are discussed and error treatments are presented. A technique using a pulsed neutron generator is shown to provide, experimentally, all the information required for characterization of a detector. Comparisons to yield measurements made at Nova will be presented. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. W-7405-ENG-48.
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Cable et al. (1988) studied this question.