Simulation of muon-catalysed fusion experiments

Henderson, C G L

Simulation of muon-catalysed fusion experiments

Master Thesis

1991

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Physics

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

A Monte Carlo code MUGLU has been, written for the simulation of experiments to measure alpha-muon sticking in muon catalysed deuterium-tritium fusion. The experiments simulated are those which measure the ratio of αμ to α from fusion in a low density gas target by detecting collinear alpha-neutron coincidences and relying on the differing stopping powers of the α and αμ ions. The Monte Carlo simulations provide estimates of geometrical and detection efficiency factors required for the calculation of the sticking coefficient from the experimental measurements. Simulations have been made of alternative experimental geometries in order to investigate the α-neutron coincidence signature and other characteristics of existing and proposed systems. The characteristics of a neutron detector used in, one of the current sticking experiments (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) have been studied experimentally, as well as simulated, using the T(d,n)α reaction to emulate the fusion source. The results obtained show that the dependence of the neutron detection efficiency on the position and angle of neutron incidence on the detector is significant and should be taken into account when determining sticking coefficients from alpha-neutron coincidence measurements.