Thermal neutron background at Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC)

Abstract

The thermal neutron background at Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC) has been determined using several 3He proportional counter detectors. Bare and Cd shielded counters were used in a series of long measurements. Pulse shape discrimination techniques were applied to discriminate between neutron and gamma signals as well as other intrinsic contributions. Montecarlo simulations allowed us to estimate the sensitivity of the detectors and calculate values for the background flux of thermal neutrons inside Hall-A of LSC. The obtained value is (3.5 +/- 0.8)×10−6 n/cm/s, and is within an order of magnitude compared to similar facilities.