Energy correlated timing spectra in target neutron techniques

An associated particle imaging (API) experimental setup with nanosecond precision electronics was constructed and tested. This API setup has the ability to measure alpha-gamma coincidence (timing) spectra, time correlated energy gamma spectra, and energy correlated timing spectra. The speed of 14.1 MeV neutron was defined from measurement of carbon energy correlated timing spectra. The measured value (5.2 cm/ns) agreed with reference data that confirmed a proper working setup and authenticated experimental results. Test experiments with graphite samples demonstrated that the minimal detectible level (MDL) of carbon with the appropriate timing window in API mode is 2.5 times lower than in continuous mode. Results indicate that this API method is quite promising for soil carbon analysis due to significantly improved MDL.