Fast neutron sensitivity of neutron detectors based on Boron-10 converter layers

In the last few years many detector technologies for thermal neutron detection have been developed in order to face the shortage of He-3, which is now much less available and more expensive. Moreover the He-3-based detectors can not fulfil the requirements in performance, e.g. the spatial resolution and the counting rate capability needed for the new instruments. The Boron-10-based gaseous detectors have been proposed as a suitable choice. This and other alternative technologies are being developed at ESS. Higher intensities mean higher signals but higher background as well. The signal-to-background ratio is an important feature to study, in particular the gamma-ray and the fast neutron contributions. This paper investigates, for the first time, the fast neutrons sensitivity of B-10-based thermal neutron detector. It presents the study of the detector response as a function of energy threshold and the underlying physical mechanisms. The latter are explained with the help of theoretical considerations and simulations.