Analysis of Archived Prompt Pulse Data from the SNS HYSPEC Instrument - Paper 68
This is an investigation by the Neutronics team at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) to understand the Hybrid-Spectrometer (HYSPEC) pulsed background problem and ultimately lend qualitative insight toward future shielding considerations. The archived user data from HYSPEC was accessed and manipulated via Mantidplot. Algorithms have been written to identify the background feature, or 'prompt pulse', in these data files and how it fluctuates as a function of time. Correlations between these fluctuations and external/internal physical changes are being analyzed in an attempt to model the behavior of the pulsed background in the SNS target building. Understanding the contributing factors of the background may help mitigate current effects as well as potential effects in future target facilities. This information is initially being used to indicate how the local shielding arrangements and general geometry of the target building and/or greater facility affect the prompt pulse as received by HYSPEC. Additionally, this better understanding of the pulsed background will continue to help our team lend increasingly accurate advice concerning future shielding improvements, minimization of prompt pulse features in the HYSPEC data, other inelastic instruments in the current target facility and suggestions for second target station planning. (authors)