CubBonner – A novel passive neutron area monitor

Responses of a novel passive neutron area monitor, named CubBonner, were calculated. The responses were estimated for sixty monoenergetic neutrons, from 10−9 to 20 MeV, with the MCNP5 code. The CubBonner is a cubic polyethylene moderator and a gold foil as thermal neutron detector. The ambient dose equivalent response was calculated for three cubes (5″, 8″ and 10” side) with the gold foil at the cube's centers. The moderator cube having the best ambient dose equivalent response was used to estimate the neutron fluence and the 197Au(n,γ) responses per history. The ambient dose response per unit mass of gold was compared with the response of the Berthold LB 6411 active neutron area monitor, and the response for the (n,γ) reaction in the gold foil was compared with the evaporation photo neutrons produced in linear accelerators for radiotherapy. •Passive neutron area monitor was designed.•Moderators proposed with cubic geometry.•A gold foil was used as thermal neutron detector.