Instruments to study fast neutrons fluxes in the upper atmosphere with the use of high-altitude balloons

The successful circumpolar flight of the X-ray polarimeter PoGOLite in the northern hemisphere during the summer campaign of 2013 inspired us, the team consisting mostly of students and senior researchers, to develop a Modular Monitor of the Cosmic Neutral Emission (MMCNE) prototype that can be flown on the high-altitude balloons to study two components of neutral emission, namely spectra of neutrons and of gamma-rays in the upper layers of Earth atmosphere. Instrument modular concept, and some of the simulated detection characteristics for the selected layout will be presented in this paper.