A comparison of untagged gamma-ray and tagged-neutron yields from AmBe and PuBe sources.

Untagged gamma-ray and tagged-neutron yields from AmBe and PuBe mixed-field sources have been measured. Gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements from 1 to 5MeV were performed in an open environment using a CeBr detector and the same experimental conditions for both sources. The shapes of the distributions are very similar and agree well with previous data. Tagged-neutron measurements from 2 to 6MeV were performed in a shielded environment using a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector for the neutrons and a YAP(Ce) detector to tag the 4.44MeVgamma-rays associated with the de-excitation of the first-excited state of C. Again, the same experimental conditions were used for both sources. The shapes of these distributions are also very similar and agree well with previous data, each other, and the ISO recommendation. Our PuBe source provides approximately 2.6 times more 4.44MeVgamma-rays and 2.4 times more neutrons over the tagged-neutron energy range, the latter in reasonable agreement with the original full-spectrum source-calibration measurements performed at the time of their acquisition.