Electron Energy Calibration of BC501A Neutron Detector and Its Application in the polythene Neutronics Integral Experiment

The pulse-height spectra of the BC501A scintillator (Φ5.08 cm×2.54 cm) were measured using ²²Na, ¹³⁷Cs γ-ray source, in which MCNP simulation was applied. The simulated pulse-height spectra show a good agreement with the measured data considering the geometry, material and energy resolution function of the scintillator. The position of the Compton edge has been precisely determined and an accurate energy calibration of BC501A scintillator was also achieved. An neutronics integral experiment of polythene with 14.8 MeV T(d, n)⁴He neutron source was carried out. The results indicate that the procedures of the energy calibration experiment of BC501A scintillator and the data analyzing in the polythene integral experiment are reasonable and reliable.