PYXIS Detector Support Structure

The PYXIS neutron detector was designed, developed and characterized by pre-college and undergraduate students involved in the Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation: Exploring the Nuclear Matter (PING) program at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). A prototype consisting of two scintillator bars positioned on the non-dispersive side of the Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) acquired data during the first two experiments conducted by the MoNA COllaboration in the S2 vault (e23033 and e23038). The support structure will be presented. The current design will be expanded into a full detector array optimized for detecting lower-energy neutrons at larger scattering angles than those accessible with the existing MoNA-LISA arrays that is sensitive to forward focused neutrons due to its location (about 5-10 m from the target). The PMT-Scintillator assemblies are 5cm x 5cm x 25cm plastic scintillators with 8x8 position sensitive photo-multiplier tubes (Hamamatsu H12700A) attached on either end to record events. A full scale, modular design is being developed to fit around the scattering chamber to measure lower energy neutrons emitted at larger angles.