Experimental characterization of the IRSN long counter for the determination of the neutron fluence reference values at the AMANDE facility

The neutron metrology and dosimetry laboratory has developed a long counter, on the basis of optimization work using Monte-Carlo simulations. The calibration of this new device was performed at the IRSN standard radionuclide source facility. Measurements were also realized at the monoenergetic neutron fields facility, AMANDE, to determine the dead time correction, the effective center and efficiency as a function of neutron energy. A good agreement was observed between the long counter results and the monoenergetic neutron fluence values determined with proton recoil counters. The results of the experimental characterization of the IRSN long counter are presented in this paper.