ИСТИНА

The FLUKA code is used to check the method (proposed earlier for the INCA project) of detection of MeV-range neutrons originated in nuclear and pure electromagnetic cascades in multilayer image lead-scintillator calorimeter (with an admixture of cadmium or gadolinium) without neutron counters by delayed ionization. MeV-range neutrons lose their energy during several microseconds in collisions with light nuclei, diffuse, and become captured by Cd or Gd nuclei with subsequent emission of gamma-rays which, in their turn, are converted into electrons. Amplitudes, time windows, a lateral spreading of delayed ionization produced by these electrons in scintillator layers are calculated. It is shown that neutron signal measured by this way can be highly efficient for the separation of electron-initiated cascades from the proton-initiated ones up to energies of several TeV. This method is planned to be used in the new space projects HERO (High Energy cosmic Ray Observatory) and INCA (Ionization-Neutron Calorimeter) aimed at investigation of different species of high-energy cosmic radiation (protons, nuclei, electrons, diffuse gammaray emission) with a high accuracy.