The response of single crystal diamond detectors to 17–34 MeV neutrons

The first measurements of the response of diamond detectors to neutrons in the energy range 17–34 MeV are presented. The diamond detectors were irradiated with quasi-monoenergetic neutrons generated through the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction. The measured pulse-height spectra show specific peaks associated to neutron induced reactions in carbon. The peak of the 12C(n,α0)9Be was clearly separated from the rest of the spectra. The12C(n,d0)11B and 12C(n,p0)12B peaks were clearly identified on a continuum originating from the breakup12C(n,3α) reaction, which dominates the low-energy part of the pulse-height spectra. The 12C(n, α0)9Be, 12C(n,d0)11B and 12C(n,p0)12B cross sections that have never been measured in this high-energy range before were determined. The measured data are compared with the European Activation File EAF-2010 library evaluated values.