An endoscopic detector for ultracold neutrons
Abstract
A new versatile detector for ultracold neutrons (UCN) has been built and operated which combines multi-pixel photon counters and GS10 lithium-doped scintillators. Such detectors can be very small and can be used to monitor UCN inside storage vessels or guides with negligible influence (of order 10(-6)) on the UCN intensity itself. We have shown that such detectors can be used in a very harsh radiation environment of up to 200 Gy/h via the addition of a 4 m long quartz light guide in order to place the radiation-sensitive photon counters outside the hot zone. Additionally we have measured the UCN storage times in situ in this harsh environment.