Design studies for the NeuLAND VETO detector

Abstract

NeuLAND (New Large-Area Neutron Detector) is the neutron detector for the R³B-experiment (Reactions with Relativistic Radioactive Beams) at FAIR (Facility for Anti-proton and Ion Research). NeuLAND is a fully active detector composed of plastic scintillator bars. Neutrons are detected by the production of charged particles in the scintillators through hadronic scattering. These charged particles are then detected by their scintillation light. Due to the highly granular design of NeuLAND, the primary neutron interaction points can be accurately reconstructed. These reconstructed points contribute to a kinematically complete reconstruction of reactions with relativistic heavy-ion beams in the target, the goal of the R³B-experiment. However, charged particles produced by scattering on other parts of the R³B-setup may provide a significant background. To distinguish the target neutrons from the background, a VETO detector could be placed in front of NeuLAND. This VETO detector is a single plane of thin plastic scintillator bars. It, therefore, provides a high detection efficiency for background particles, but a low detection efficiency for neutrons. For every signal in the VETO, NeuLAND signals can be analyzed with respect to their correlation to the VETO signal and can be eliminated from the further neutron analysis. In this paper, the design of this VETO detector is discussed.