Measurements of Primary Capture Gamma-rays from Cu, Gd and Fe at the UMass Lowell Research Reactor

Measurements of primary gamma-rays from thermal neutron capture have been taken with the FAIRRAY Detector at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor (UMLRR) from samples of natural Cu, Fe, and Gd. A columnated beam of thermal neutrons produced by the 1 MW reactor is incident on targets fixed between two high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors for high-resolution spectrocopy of emitted gamma-rays. The detector array incorporates scintillation detectors for active Compton shielding to improve signal-to-background. We discuss the results of experimental measurements, corresponding simulation work for validation, and future efforts planned.