Performance of the Neutron dEtector with Xn Tracking (NEXT).*

A new neutron detector with tracking capabilities has been constructed, characterized, and tested in decay and reaction experiments. The interaction position localization capability enables improvement in energy resolution and detection efficiency in the neutron time-of-flight measurement. An efficient neutron detection system with good energy resolution is required to correctly characterize decays of neutron-rich nuclei where beta-delayed neutron emission is a dominant decay mode. Precision neutron spectroscopy instrumentation is essential to probe nuclear structure effects in neutron-rich nuclei in new generation radioactive beam facilities. The new detector is expected to fulfill this role, and the first performance studies of this detector showed very promising results. Presently a small array is constructed and undergoing test with radioactive beams.