Abstract
We report on the design and performance of a neutron-sensitive pixelated detector using an array of silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) sensors. The proof-of-concept design consists of an 8 × 8 array of SiPM sensors coupled with an 8 × 8 array of 6Li-enriched glass scintillator (GS20) cubes. Each scintillator cube, of size 2 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm, is placed directly over each element in the sensor array. Each sensor is read out and processed using a simple comparator for pulse height discrimination. Individual counts are then recorded using a Xilinx ZYNQ-based system on chip. Tests performed at the Double-Axis Diffractometer (2X-C) and the High-Resolution Neutron Powder Diffractometer (PSD) beamlines at Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR) show a linear response of individual sensor element up to 100 kHz over an area of 0.2 cm × 0.2 cm, which is equivalent to 2.5 MHz/cm2. The detector efficiency at a neutron wavelength of 4.1 A was measured to be 74.6% relative to the detection efficiency of a 1-inch diameter 10-atm 3He gas detector. The pixel crosstalk was estimated to be less than 3%. The gamma sensitivity was measured to be 1 × 10-3 using calibrated 60Co gamma source at the optimal discriminator setting of the detector.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | 2019 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2019 |
Publisher | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781728141640 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | 2019 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2019 - Manchester, United Kingdom Duration: Oct 26 2019 → Nov 2 2019 |
Publication series
Name | 2019 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2019 |
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Conference
Conference | 2019 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2019 |
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Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Manchester |
Period | 10/26/19 → 11/2/19 |
Funding
Manuscript received December 13, 2019. This work was supported in part by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy.
Keywords
- FPGA
- Li
- high count rate
- neutron detector
- neutron reflectometry
- pixelated detector
- silicon photomultiplier