Characterisation of pulse-mode operation of D-T portable neutron generator by diamond detector

A single-crystal fast neutron diamond detector has been applied to study the pulse-mode operation of the MP320 portable neutron generator. The pulses were recorded by the Red Pitaya – STEMlab 125–14 with modified FPGA firmware. The study includes the main parameters that affect the neutron pulse output of the neutron generator, i.e. pulsing frequency, duty factor, and beam current. Neutron pulse shapes, i.e. time dependences of neutron emission of neutron generator operated in pulsing mode, have been measured for four frequencies in the range from 250 Hz to 20 kHz, for two values of duty factors (10 % and 50 %), and for three values of beam current (20, 45 and 70 μA). The measurement showed significant deterioration from idealised rectangular neutron emission, especially for high frequencies and for low values of beam current. The results confirm that the fast neutron diamond detectors can be advantageously used for characterisation of pulse operation of DT portable neutron generator in the whole range of its operational parameters.