Efficiency of neutron detection of superheated drops of Freon-22

Neutron detection efficiency of superheated drops of Freon-22 for neutrons obtained from a 3 Curie Am-Be neutron source has been reported in this pape r. Although Freon-22 having lower boiling point than many other similar liq uids (e.g., Freon-12, Freon-114, Isobutane) is expected to be more sensitiv e to neutrons, it has not been reported so far and therefore this paper con stitutes the first report on the subject. Neutron detection efficiency of b oth Freon-22 and Freon-12 have been determined from the measured nucleation rate using the volumetric method developed in our laboratory. The result s hows that the neutron detection efficiency of Freon-22 for the neutron ener gy spectrum obtained from an Am-Be source, is almost double, while the life time is 58.6% smaller than that of Freon-12, for a particular neutron flux of that source. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.