32 2IRE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE November

B?3 COUNTER BACKGROUND STUDY

0. W. Bilharz
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory
Schenectady, New York
Summary energy within their mean f ree path to
cause appreciable secondary ionization.
An evaluation of spurious, non- The "gas multiplication" resulting from
neutron, background counts from BF3 pro- collection of this secondary ionization
portional counters has been made. This produces a very much larger output pulse
evaluation indicates that the source of than would be the case if only the
ionization events within the counters is initial ionization were collected. With-
from alpha particles originating in in certain operational limits, the out-
natural uranium series bulk contamination put pulse remains proportional to the
of the counter materials. This leads to quantity of initial ionization, which is
an irreducible minimum background count- in turn proportional to the energy
ing rate in the absence of rTeutrons dissipated in the initial ionized track.
which is characteristic of each indivi-
dual counter. Measurements on a number Several factors, however, affect the
of commercial counters gave backgrounds pulse height spectrum resulting from
of from 0.005 to 0.05 cpm per square ionization tracks within the counter.
inch of inner surface. Careful materials At high ion densities (high count rates)
selection and special processing the space charge produced will affect
techniques should reduce this source of the gas multiplication by affecting the
background considerably. field strengths near the wire. Under
these conditions ion pairs can also be
Introduction lost by bulk recombination. At any
counting rate, a portion of the elec-
Interest in the measurement of very trons may be lost by attachment
low neutron densities has emphasized the depending on the spatial position of the
perennial problems of noise and back- ionization track, if any of a number of
ground in proportional counter neutron electronegative contaminants are present
measurement channels. When all sources in the gas. BF3 is particularly sensi-
of electrical and electronic noise have tive to contamination in this regard,
been reduced to negligible proportions, espec a when the higher pressures are
it is found that there remains a back- used. 1 ) ) Careful manufacturing
ground of usually several counts per techniques and lengthy pre-soaking with
minute which may be of the same order of BF3 prior to final fill can result in
magnitude as the expected neutron event good long-lived counters(t3)
counting rate. An evaluation of the
causes of this background was needed in The output pulse amplitude spectrum
order to determine the actual neutron of the BF3 counter is characterized by
events. the reaction energy release induced by
neutron absorption in the B10 nucleus.
Operational Characteristics of the BF3 The Q of this reaction is 2.791 Mev
Proportional Counter carried by the resulting alpha and Li7
nucleus. In 94% of the reactions, the
This counter, as normally con- Li7 is lef t in an excited state so that
structed, is tubular with a center wire the reaction pr cts carry 2.313 Mev in
electrode on the axis. It is filled with kinetic energy.?t
especially pure BF3 gas to pressures
ranging from 20 cm Hg upwards to 70 cm Hg Ideally, the minimum pulse
in commercial units. With the center amplitude f rom the counter results when
wire positive, free electrons from the reaction takes place adjacent to the
ionization events within the counter are counter wall and only the Li7 track
drawn toward the wire. Sufficient (0.84 Mev) appears in the counting
potential is used such that as these volume. The maximum amplitude results
electrons enter the high field strength from the complete collection of the
region near the center wire, secondary 2.791 Mev event. Since the track
ionization by collision occurs. The lengths of these particles are on the
high mass ions do not obtain sufficient order of a centimeter at the usual
MSS rec'dI by PGNS b/9/62. filling pressures (about 50 cm Hg), most

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1962 BILHARZ: BF3 COUNTER BACKGROUND STUDY 33

HN
INPUT

PREAMPLIFIER BASIC CIRCUIT FROM - R. L. CHASE, W. HIGINBOTHAM,

G. MILLER, IRE NS-8 #1 (147) JAN 1961.

Fig. 1

of the output pulses are of an amplitude neutron densities pt be measured in

corresponding to the 2.31 Mev event, and high gamma fields.I)
having a spread of amplitudes due to the
statistics of the multiplication process. Careful attention to details such as
A theoretical derivation of this pulse cleanliness of cable connectors,
height spectrum has been made(5) and good insulators, and capacitors, can result in
counters of the usual sizes and filling electronics noise pulses smaller than
pressures give charge pulse spectra in those corresponding to gamma events.
very good agreement with theory. Such care is not usual in the ordinary
reactor counting channels.
When these counters are used for the
measurement of very low neutron inten- Af ter observation of the output
sities, other sources of ionization events pulse height spectrum of a particular
within the counter become of considerable counter when exposed to a neutron source,
importance. Those usually considered are the spectrum resulting from a background
Compton electrons from the counter walls run can readily be treated to show how
due to ambient gamma photons. This low many of the detected events can be
ionization density in the tracks of these assigned to neutron interactions. Even
Compton electrons, and the available with a multi-channel analyzer, runs of
track lengths possible in the usual sized several days duration may be necessary to
counters result in output pulses obtain a reasonable measurement of low
corresponding to perhaps O.3 Mev as a neutron backgrounds.
maximum. Hence large, high pressure
counters are at a disadvantage in high Backgiround Measurements
gamma fields. The counter pulse must be
shaped by short time constants in the In the absence of artificial neutron
associated electronics to reduce the sources, there is an ambient background
effects of gamma pulse pileup when low of neutrons caused by meson and other

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 34 IRE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE November

shower reactions in the atmosphere and 2~~~~~~~~

surrounding material. These reactions

have been studied for some years, (7,8,9, RELATIVE GAIN VS COUNTER VOLTAGE
AND DERIVED EFFE( (TIVE GAS MULTIPLICATION,
10,11,12) and, though variations with AS MEASURED BY Al [PLITUDE OF 2.31Mev PEAK
time are to be expected, plausible levels COuNTER #B645 12/21/61
should range from 0.002 to 0.007 CHARGE PREAMP tfB'
equivalent thermal neutrons per cm2 sec.
Heavy metals near the detector would in- 200
crease this level considerably, and water 1000
would increase or decrease it, due to 1 _
combinations of neutron production,
moderation, and shielding effects. -
50

In order to reduce the neutron / 50 -

background caused by cosmic ray events z

and artificial sources, all measurement

0
0 -

runs with the various counters studied 100 +

were made with the counter wrapped in t~~~~ EH

sheet cadmium, and installed in a _~~~~~~ A

borated polyethylene box with walls

about three inches thick. The results of 4
an unshielded run is included in Figure 6
for comparison. H
le 4 2
A Technical Measurements 10

Corporation Model 402 pulse height -

-

EXTRA] OLATED UNITY GAS GAIN 1 -

10000

1
1000 2000
COUNTER VOLTAGE

Fig. 3
1000

analyzer was used for collection of the

counter pulse height spectra in these
runs. Several preamplifiers were tried,
and one (selected) integrating, or
charge-pu se preamplifier was used for
all runs k13 This particular unit had
.

been found to be especially noise free.

The schematic of this preamplifier is
COUNTS shown in Figure 1. The pulse height
PER spectrum from a typical run made for the
CHANNEL
purpose of noise evaluation is shown as
Figure 2. In observing the pulse height
spectrum of ionization events in a BF
counter, an integrating type preamplirier
is more nearly linear than the usual
voltage or current amplifiers. The
counter charge collection pulses
exhibit differing rise times depending
upon the initial ionizing track
orientation and position within the
counter. A differentiating time constant
shorter than several microseconds thus
gives an effect of spectrum distortion,
100 150
though for fast counting a fast time
ER'
constant is required. The observed rise
CHANNL NU
times of the pulses at the preamplifier
output varied f rom several tenths of a
Fig. 2 microsecond to several microseconds, and

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1962
the preamplifier differentiating time
constant was about 50 microseconds.
Pileup was of course no problem in these
test runs.
Virtually all counters were operated
at voltages producing effective gas
multiplications of about 45, this being a
reasonable compromise between available
electronic amplification required at
lower voltages and spectrum distortion
due to space charge effects at the
higher voltages. Relative gain versus
high voltage of one counter is shown in
Figure 3 including the effective gas
multiplication as derived from the
extrapolation to unity gain. Most
spectrum runs were made with the pulse
height analyzer gain set to place the
2.31 Mev peak approximately at channel
100.
Lengthy runs extending to several
days duration were required with each
counter to collect sufficient counts to
determine statistically meaningful curves
for counter pulse height spectra. Com-
BILHARZ: BF3 COUNTER BACKGROUND STUDY 35
parison with spectra obtained by exposure
of the counter to a weak Po Be source
permitted subtraction of residual
neutron-caused counts by the "peel off"
technique commonrysed in gamma pulse
height analysis. T4) A number of these
spectra from both background and source
runs are shown in Figures 4 through 23.
The experimental points are not shown in
these figures, but the statistical
scatter was that to be expected by the
relatively low number of counts per
channel. The curves were drawn by using
a mean of five to ten adjacent channel
counts as a guide. Some leakage neutrons
were detected in most of the background
runs, and were recognizable by the
characteristic spectra from the boron
breakup events.
Measurement Results
The background tests included all
types of counters readily available in
the Laboratory at the time, and repre-
sented most of the domestic commercial

10000 i i i 10000

COuNTER #B644
2100 V. COUNTER #B644
2100 V.
PULSE HEIGHT SPECTRUM FROM 3976 MIN RUN
IN SHIELD (2" -4"Pb, 3"B-POLY, O.o04"Cd) Pl)LSE HEIGHT SPECT7RUM FROM RUN WITH Po-Be SOURCE
12/8-11/61 12/11/61

1000 t t + +4 1000 +I 4- +- 4-
. Mev

NEUTRON COUNTS TOO FEW TO BE RESOLVED

100 + 1t
2.31 Mev PEAK WOULD APPEAR HERE:
1- t - e 100
counts
COUNTS | 2.79 Mev
per
PER
channel
CHANNEL
INTEGRAL COUNT ABOVE
CHANNEL 25 - 9604, OR

10 t + . \ 10
t- f- 4-
t1- I t- e-

1 i t t --I 1 i i i i
50 100 150 200 250 300 50 100 150 200 250 300
CHANNEL NUMBER
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 4 Fig. s

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1 0000 10000 0000
1 00

COUNTER #B644 COUNTER #B645

2100 V. 2100 V.
UNSHIELDED RUN, 2878 MIN 11/19-21/61 1270 MIN RUN IN SHIELD (3"B-POLY, 0.02"Cd)
12/20-21/61

looo t- -+- + + + t 1i000 + t t +

INTEGRAL COUNT ABOVE CHANNEL 20 = 14042 z:>

/ OR 4.88 C/M

C-3
100 t + t 100 + t t- 4-
COUNTS ,SPECTRUM SHAPE OF
z
RESIDUAL NON-NEUTRON BKGR. COUNTS INTEGRAL COUNT ABOVE CHANNEL 20 = 3069
PER :>
PER LESS PROBABLE NEUTRON EVENTS, z
CHANNEL , 'N REMAINDER = 2946, OR 2.32 C/M
I CHANNEL Q
zQ
CI,
NEUTRON EVENTS,
SPECTRUM SlIAPE
10 I, OM FIG5 + t- 10 +- 4+ t t 4 t-
INTEGRAL 2.47 C
C-s"Ij'
.~ ~I
z
NEUTRON EVENT I SHAPE
,. FROM4 FIG 8
C)
.
tTj
I

1 r -+ 1
0 50 100 150 200 250 3°0 C 50 100 150 2dO 250 360
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 6 Fig. 7

z
0
CD

CD

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 t-13

100K 10000

COUNTER #B645
2100 V.

SPECTRUM OF RUN WITH Po-Be SOURCE

10K
~ ~ -04li
+ t 4- f + 1000
w
I-
t1I

* j
w
2.31 Mev CD
Q
0
1000 100
t

COUNTS
aC-)
COUNTS
PER PER tzj
CHANNE CHANNEL
W
0
~o
100 _
2.79 Mev
+ 4t +- 10

C~)
ai
-3
z--

- --
10 -b t t
250
= -50 v~~~~~ lvtl
150 200 3
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 8 Fig. 9

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 CD
00

lUoUU , - ..

PARALLEL GROUP OF SEVEN COUNTERS (A-3)

2550 V.

915 MIN RUN IN SHIELD (3'B-POLY, 0.02"Cd)

12/14-15/61

1000 I t +- -- - 1

INTEGRAL COUNT ABOVE CHANNEL 20 = 9427 02

LESS PROBABLE NEUTRON EVENTS, INTEGRAL = 7979
OR 8.63 C/Mi 0
100 z1-
COUNTS z
H
PER 0
CHANNEL ITi
z
024
0
:>
zV
I10 CQ
0
RESIDUAL NEUTRON EVENT 0
SPECTRUM SHAPE FROM FIG 11
L*TJ

1. *-

50 100 150 200 250 300

CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 10 Fig. 11

z
0
CD
3
0s
CD

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 Is,

lOOK

w
(24
C-
0

ci,
H

50 100 150 200 250 300

CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 12 Fig. 13

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 0

10000
10000

COUNTER #17
1875 V.

2399 MIN RUN IN SHIELD (3"B-POLY, 0.02"Cd)

1/22-24/62
1000 LII
1000

c:il
C)
44- -4- ;>
H
z0
-
100
100 tf + +
COUNTS
INTEGRAL ABOVE CHANNEL 20= 666 PER z
* 570,
LESS PLAUSIBLE NEUTRON EVENTS, INTEGRAL CHANNEL z
OR 0.237 C/M.
ci

t
10 '-4
10 4- + + t

NON-NEUTRON BACKGROUND SPECTRUM C)

COUNTS
PER
,\ -NEUTRON EVENT SPECTRUM z
CHANNEL SHAPE FROM FIG 15
tT:j
,,

1 I uu
\i, 100 150
ul CH
200U 250 3 50
CHANNEL 1UBLD
1NEAI, NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 14 Fig. 15

z
0
CD
El
CD

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 w
0-4

N
w
CD
0
0
3
tTj

w
Q
0

~o
0

50 100 150
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 16 Fig. 17

I-A

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10000 10 0 0
lOOQO i

PARALLEL GROUP OF SEEN COUNTERS (B-1)

1975 V. COUNTER #G16807
1900 V.

1195 MIN RUN IN SHIELD (3"B-POLY, 0.02"Cd)

12/11-12/61
1000 + + f t + 1000 f
SPECTRUM FROM RUN IN SHIEL)
H
687 MIN 12/27/61
INTEGRAL ABOVE CHANNEL 30 = 14360
INTEGRAL COUNTS ABOVE CHANNEL 20 - 8180 OR 20.9 C/M
H
zq
LESS PLAUSIBLE NEUTRON EVENTS, INTEGRAL- 7010 ), 0
OR 5.86 c/M 02
100 + + t t ~ ~ +
~~~t 100

COUNTS
z
COUNTS II I
PER PER I I
CHANNEL CHANNEL
I 'I z
II I SPECTRUM FROM
I SOURCE RUN (2
1-'
10 10 +I 4- i- +- +

NEUTRON EVENT SPECTR t

SHAPE FROM SOURCE RUN I
t
02
I tTj
t
k z(2
tT

1 1 I
I i~ ~~~, i _ F-- ---
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 50 100 150 200 250 300
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 18 Fig. 19

CD

CD

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 tC3

10000 4 ,

lOOK? COUNTER #124

EVACUATED AND REFILLED WITH P-10 AT 76 Cm
1370 V., GAS GAIN APPX 25
COUNTER SP-76 1650 V.
SPECIAL BF3, WITH Am241 ON INNER SURFACE
w
1000 + t + 4- + +
2.31 Mev

10K
o-
t- + + + N
w
I:j
MIN RUN WITH MODERATED SOURCE
10 MIN RUN WITH Po-Be SOURCE CAI
0
0
100 4- 4-
R-
1000 _ + COUNTS 140 MIN RUN WITH BARE SO'URCE
lJ 4- -3
PER tTj
I
A 5.47 Mev CHANNEL
~~ w
0
100 10 MIN RUN IN SHIEL^D

10
0En

02
-3
H4

ioit --
.1. I 1
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 20 Fig. 21

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 10000

#G16822 (60 CM FILL)

1900 V.

2.31 Mev

1000 -F

10 MIN RUN WITH SOURCE

;Cf

z0
100 \+ -- 4- + 4±
10 MIN RUN
IN SHIELD
COUNTS
PER (TYPICAL OF z
CHANNEL INSULATOR NOISE) z
0
10 I Xt e$- +1 -t t- zn
.',

1
50 100 2 56 100 150 200 250 300
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 22 Fig. 23

z
0

'Ds

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1962 BILHARZ: BF3 COUNTER BACKGROUND STUDY 45

manufacturers. Table I shows the par- when in equilibrium would contain the
ticular counters tested, their physical following major alpha groups:
characteristics, and the test results.
u238 4.51 x 109y 4.18 Mev
The magnitude of the background U234 2.5 x lO0y 2.76
counting rate varied considerably among Th230 8.0 x 10 y 4.68
the counters tested. However, there was Ra226 1620y 4.78, 4.59
a close correlation with inside surface Em222 3.8 d 5.48
area among counters of the same manu- P0218 3.05 m 6.0
facture which were purchased at similar po214 160 us 7.68
times. If cosmic ray induced events P0210 138 d 5.3
were the cause of this background, there
would be a correlation within all counters The natural thorium series in equilibrium
of the same wall material with wall area, would contain these major alpha groups:
or a correlation within all counters
with quantity of BF3 (or neutron Th232 1.39 x 1010y 3.99 Mev
sensitivity). No such correlation was Th228 1.9 y 5.42
found. Comparisons of these factors Ra224 3.64 d 5.68
are shown in Figure 24. Em220 52 s 6.28
p0216 0.16 s 6.77
The background spectra show that the P0212 0.3 us 8.78
ionization events in the counters occur
as a relatively continuous spectra of
initial ionization energies, up to the In addition, airborne radon decay.
region of seven Mev. The counting rates activity would lead, after a short time,
of these background events and the shape to 28210 alphas following the parent
of the measured pulse height spectra are Pb half -life .
both consistent with an assumption of
natural contamination with uranium decay Plausible artificial alpha contami-
series alpha activities in the bulk of the nation could be caused by processing
counter structural materials. Surface counters on the same vacuum equipment
contamination alphas would not encounter used in construction of fission coknters.
wall absorption of alpha energy and Possibilities here would include UK35
hence would give a peaked structure to (44f, 4.58 Mev), U233 £4.82, 4.78 Mev),
the pulse height spectra. One commer-
cial counter tested did show this peaked Np 37 (4.79 Mev), or (5.15 Mev). Pu239
structure in its background spectrum, in- The observed pulse height spectra
dicative of such surface contamination. from the background runs are consistent
This spectra is shown in Figure 19. w\4 an assumption of contamination with
U ° (or Ra226) daughters, and are not
Several natural or artificial alpha consistent with assumption of thorium
contaminants could be expected in counter series, radon daughters, or the common
materials. The natural uranium series fission counter coating materials.

Lble 1

COUNTERS CHECKED IN BACKGROUBND TESTS

Count' Serial Type Fill I.D. Act. L. Wall A Total A Volume Wall Sensitiv. Backgr. Backgr. Bkgrnd Neutr.
ModelN) No. Fill Cm. In. In. Sq. In. Sq,. In. Cu. In. Mat'l cps/nv cpm Equiv. nv Spectr Spectr
A-1 R644 BF3 1.89 8.125 48.2 53.8 22.8 Al 11.9 2.48 0.00347
A-1 0645 BF3 1.89 8.125 48.2 53.8
Fig. 4 Fig. 5
22.8 Al 11.9 2.32 0.00324 7 8
A-2 (1) SF3 70 1.89 20 357 373.2 167 Al 77.5 7.86 0.00169 9
A-3 (2) BF3 70 0, 936 20 412 422 96 .3 Al 68 8.63 0.00211 10 11
B-1 (2) SF3 55 26 572 582 143 Al 56.5 5.86
B-2 613901 BF3 55
1
26
0.00173 18
1 326 332 81.6 Al 35.2 3.41 0.u016i 16
B-2 613902 SF3 55 1 26 326 332 81.6 Al 35.2 3.10 0.00147
A-4 4 SF3 1.2 16
17
60 62-3 18.1 SS 6.7 1.875 O.oo467 12 13
A-4 17 BF3 1.2 i6 60 62.3 18.1 SS 6.7 0.237 0.00059 14 15
C-] 1637 BF3 40 1.936 12 73 TSr 16.1 0.41
C-1 124 S0 76 1.936 12
79 35.3 0.00043
73 79 35-3 Br 0.0046 0.412 1.5 22 21
D-1 G-16807 SF3 60 0.94 4.5 13-3 14.7 3.12 Br 20.9
D-1 G-11227 EF3 30 0.94 4.5 19
13.3 14.7 3.12 Br 1.31 0.53 °.0066
DC1 G-11225 BF3 30 0.94 4.5 13-3 14.7 3.12 Br 1 .31 0.36 0.0046
Special SP-76 BF3 55 1 8.6 Al 20

Y7QES:
11 I..
L1
, I
Tested as a paralleled group of three.
-

(2) Tested as a paralleled group of seven.

(3) Tested as a paralleled group of four.
(4) Refers to manufacture and type.

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46 IRE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE November

tion as previously noted. Most of the

0 0
tl-
H
ck. cu
cu
0-
cu
remainder of the available units showed
cn
D0
m
vo
--I
x
a]
O
-

X --t
t--
11
rn
I'D
14
--t 0
cli H
14 cB4
excessive insulator noise for low level
I4 m : .4 X * II.- z* zw z*a.
use, preventing measurement of alpha con-
tamination. Figure 23 shows the spectrum
0. oo6 -
BACKGROUND AS SPURIOUS nv of a typical sample.
0.005 -

o.oo4 -
Most counters in use today are made
0.003
of aluminum or stainless steel, both
KlH1F1nHHHH
-

0.002
notorious for containing contamination.(16)
-

0.001 -

0 Electrolytic copper and certain plastics

have been the traditional structural
materials for low level counters of all

] nn r,,,... I I
4 - BACKGROUND VS COUNTER VOLU
3 #613902 AS UNITY types. Plastics are not particularly
n
-
2 -

practical for BF3 counters, but copper

1

0 -
-
F] counters have been common in British
practice where activation could be
6 - minimized. Nickel plating the inner
5
4
-
surface of low level alpha counters has
3
-

-
been common counting room practice for
2 -
many years.
1 -

0 -
In all of the tests, the non-neutron
background of the "good" counters varied
from 0.41 counts per minute to 8.63
Fig. 24 counts per minute, and in terms of wall
area, from 0.005 to 0.05 counts per
To further explore the assumption
minute per square inch. It is probable
of alpha contamination, a counter that a reduction to 0.003 counts per
deliberately contaminated with Am24-
minute per square inch may be practical
activity was run to obtain its pulse
using material selection or plating
height spectrum.(15) This spectrum of techniques.
Figure 20 shows the characteristic
5.47 Mev peak of the Am2 1 surface
coptaminant as well as the B10 (n, Conclusions and Recommendations
Li' reaction spectrum of the usual BF3
counter. The following conclusions and
recommendations can be gathered from this
In addition, two old brass counters study:
of the same type and about the same age
were obtained. One checked as a good a) All recent commercial counters
counter and its background was measured so far tested show alpha contamination
as in previous runs. The other counter background of considerably higher count
was evacuated and refilled with one rates than should be expected.
atmosphere of P-10 (90% A - 10%
Pulse height analysis runs with the
CHO). b) Counters required to have
refilled counter using a neutron source exceptionally low background should be
showed that there was a very slight carefully made of selected materials,
amount of B10 still left on the inner possibly of electrolytic copper.
walls which resulted in individuel pulse
height peaks of the alpha and Li reaction c;) Alternatively, alpha-shielding
products little distorted by absorption inner wall coatings such as nickel plate
energy loss (see Figure 21). The back- could be utilized. Boron 10 lining in a
ground counting rate of the refilled BF, counter cannot be made sufficiently
counter was virtually the same as its thick to stop contaminant alphas without
BF filled counterpart, and the pulse adverse effect on the counter plateau.
heYght spectrum of the background was the
same as those observed in previous runs d) Runs requiring several days
(see Figure 22). The background counting duration for adequate statistics can be
rate of these two brass counters was the made by utilizing a pulse height analyzer
lowest of all tested to date. to separate neutron from background events.
Since these old brass wall counters e) An efficient shield box can
had such low backgrounds, some new brass easily be made of borated polyethylene
counters (of a different vendor) were for rapid screening of counters for
tested. One of these showed contamina- spurious background.

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1962 BILHARZ: BF3 COUNTER BACKGROUND STUDY 47
f) Counter shells may be screened 9. J. Simpson, et al. Phys. Rev. 90 (934) 1953.
for contamination prior to BF3 filling 10. E. Althaus, R. Sard, Phys. Rev. 90 (373) 1953.
by operating them with a temporary P-lO 11. W. Oretl, Phys. Rev. 93 (561) 1954.
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#W-31-109-Eng.-52 with the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.

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