Development and operation of a 6LiF:ZnS(Ag)—scintillating plastic capture-gated detector

K. Wilhelm; J. Nattress; I. Jovanovic

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.042

Development and operation of a ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag)—scintillating plastic capture-gated detector

K. Wilhelm, J. Nattress, I. Jovanovic

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report on the design, construction, and operation of a capture-gated neutron detector based on a heterogeneous scintillating structure comprising two scintillator types. A flat, 500 µm thick sheet composed of a mixture of lithium-6-fluoride capture agent, ⁶LiF, and zinc sulfide phosphor, ZnS(Ag), is wrapped around scintillating polyvinyl toluene (PVT) in a form of cylinder. The ⁶LiF: ZnS(Ag) sheet uses an aluminum foil backing as a support for the scintillating material and as an optical reflector, and its optical properties have been characterized independently. The composite scintillator was tested using ²⁵²Cf, DD fusion, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁶⁰Co sources. The intrinsic detection efficiency for neutrons from an unmoderated ²⁵²Cf source and rejection of gammas from ¹³⁷Cs were measured to be 3.6% and 10⁻⁶, respectively. A figure of merit for pulse shape discrimination of 4.6 was achieved, and capture-gated spectroscopic analysis is demonstrated.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	54-61
Number of pages	8
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	842
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.042
State	Published - Jan 11 2017
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The authors are grateful to Michael Mayer, Marc Wonders, Albert Foster, Zoubeida Ounaies, and Amira Meddeb for their comments, suggestions, and assistance with measurements. Additionally, we want to thank Eljen Technologies for providing the EJ-426 sample material used in light reflection/transmission measurements. The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under Grant Award Number 2014-DN-077-ARI078-02 and 2015-DN-077-ARI096 . The research of J.N. was performed under appointment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation International Safeguards Graduate Fellowship Program sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration's Next Generation Safeguards Initiative. The research of K.W. was performed under appointment to the Advanced Civil Schooling program sponsored by the DOD, U.S. Army, and United States Military Academy.

Funders	Funder number
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Homeland Security	2014-DN-077-ARI078-02, 2015-DN-077-ARI096
National Nuclear Security Administration
U.S. Army
U.S. Military Academy

Keywords

Capture-gated spectroscopy
Composite detector
Fast neutron detection
LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator
Neutron scintillation
Pulse shape discrimination

Access to Document

10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.042

Cite this

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title = "Development and operation of a 6LiF:ZnS(Ag)—scintillating plastic capture-gated detector",

abstract = "We report on the design, construction, and operation of a capture-gated neutron detector based on a heterogeneous scintillating structure comprising two scintillator types. A flat, 500 µm thick sheet composed of a mixture of lithium-6-fluoride capture agent, 6LiF, and zinc sulfide phosphor, ZnS(Ag), is wrapped around scintillating polyvinyl toluene (PVT) in a form of cylinder. The 6LiF: ZnS(Ag) sheet uses an aluminum foil backing as a support for the scintillating material and as an optical reflector, and its optical properties have been characterized independently. The composite scintillator was tested using 252Cf, DD fusion, 137Cs, and 60Co sources. The intrinsic detection efficiency for neutrons from an unmoderated 252Cf source and rejection of gammas from 137Cs were measured to be 3.6% and 10−6, respectively. A figure of merit for pulse shape discrimination of 4.6 was achieved, and capture-gated spectroscopic analysis is demonstrated.",

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author = "K. Wilhelm and J. Nattress and I. Jovanovic",

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doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.042",

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AU - Wilhelm, K.

AU - Nattress, J.

AU - Jovanovic, I.

PY - 2017/1/11

Y1 - 2017/1/11

N2 - We report on the design, construction, and operation of a capture-gated neutron detector based on a heterogeneous scintillating structure comprising two scintillator types. A flat, 500 µm thick sheet composed of a mixture of lithium-6-fluoride capture agent, 6LiF, and zinc sulfide phosphor, ZnS(Ag), is wrapped around scintillating polyvinyl toluene (PVT) in a form of cylinder. The 6LiF: ZnS(Ag) sheet uses an aluminum foil backing as a support for the scintillating material and as an optical reflector, and its optical properties have been characterized independently. The composite scintillator was tested using 252Cf, DD fusion, 137Cs, and 60Co sources. The intrinsic detection efficiency for neutrons from an unmoderated 252Cf source and rejection of gammas from 137Cs were measured to be 3.6% and 10−6, respectively. A figure of merit for pulse shape discrimination of 4.6 was achieved, and capture-gated spectroscopic analysis is demonstrated.

AB - We report on the design, construction, and operation of a capture-gated neutron detector based on a heterogeneous scintillating structure comprising two scintillator types. A flat, 500 µm thick sheet composed of a mixture of lithium-6-fluoride capture agent, 6LiF, and zinc sulfide phosphor, ZnS(Ag), is wrapped around scintillating polyvinyl toluene (PVT) in a form of cylinder. The 6LiF: ZnS(Ag) sheet uses an aluminum foil backing as a support for the scintillating material and as an optical reflector, and its optical properties have been characterized independently. The composite scintillator was tested using 252Cf, DD fusion, 137Cs, and 60Co sources. The intrinsic detection efficiency for neutrons from an unmoderated 252Cf source and rejection of gammas from 137Cs were measured to be 3.6% and 10−6, respectively. A figure of merit for pulse shape discrimination of 4.6 was achieved, and capture-gated spectroscopic analysis is demonstrated.

KW - Capture-gated spectroscopy

KW - Composite detector

KW - Fast neutron detection

KW - LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator

KW - Neutron scintillation

KW - Pulse shape discrimination

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