Calibration of the W-PIE neutron spectrometer at CERF reference facility

Abstract

The W-PIE is a cosmic neutron spectrometer used for environmental measurements, developed by Politecnico di Milano. The instrument is based on the Artkis M800 thermal neutron detector and works as a 4-channel spectrometer for detecting neutrons in the energy range of 0.01 eV–1 GeV. After the spectrometer had been calibrated in some monoenergetic neutron fields at the PIAF facility of PTB, the instrument was tested in the neutron field generated at the CERF facility, whose spectrum fairly resembles the cosmic one. This measurement is a precious tool for predicting the performance of the instrument in a realistic situation.