ELIGANT-TN -- ELI Gamma Above Neutron Threshold: The Thermal Neutron setup

Abstract

Here we present the thermal neutron counter from the ELI Gamma Above Neutron Threshold setup at the Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics. We describe the mechanical design of the setup, the properties of the ${}^{3}$He gas counters, and the hardware data-acquisition electronics and software digital signal processing. The performance of the complete detector array is demonstrated via Geant4 and MCNP simulations, and measurements with typical neutron sources. The analysis procedure for experimental measurements are outlined with a in-beam test experiment with an $\alpha$ beam to measure the ${}^{13}\mathrm{C}(\alpha,\mathrm{n}_{0}){}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ cross-section branching ratios.