Fast two-dimensional position-sensitive detection of neutrons in a time-of-flight reflectometer

A two-dimensional position-sensitive neutron detector with a maximum count rate of 500 kHz is described. The high counting rate is obtained by making use of dedicated electronics for data handling. The electronics convert the wire charges of a position-sensitive photomultiplier into a position using internal look-up tables. Timing modules are presented for neutron time-of-flight (TOF) determination and for dynamic measurements with an independent time-base. The position and TOF information are stored by a fast Data Handling Module. The detector is calibrated with a grid of 256×256 channels, using channel widths of 0.25 mm.The maximum error in position determination is 0.25 mm.This error is reduced to less than 0.05mm when the electronics are used one dimensionally instead of two dimensionally. The total detector resolution was determined to be 0.6mm.