Speaker
Description
The spectrometric characterisation of large‑scale neutron irradiation facilities is particularly challenging, as neutron energies can range from thermal energies to several hundred MeV. Bonner spheres (BS) have long been employed for their robustness, well‑established response and controlled uncertainties; however, they are not practical as real‑time monitors. Over the past decade, BS have evolved into a new class of instruments known as single‑moderator neutron spectrometers (SMNS). These devices condense the functionality of BS into a single moderator with a tailored geometry, incorporating multiple solid‑state thermal‑neutron detectors positioned according to previously optimized geometries. SMNS offer comparable energy coverage, operating principles, accuracy and unfolding aspects to BS, but they require only one exposure to determine the full neutron spectrum. Several SMNS designs have been developed to address different measurement needs, including response directionality, field intensity and the presence of parasitic radiation components. This work presents this evolution, with particular emphasis on neutron monitoring in large‑scale facilities.