Light collection optimization in scintillator-based gamma-ray spectrometers

G. Hull; S. Du; T. Niedermayr; S. Payne; N. Cherepy; A. Drobshoff; L. Fabris

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2008.01.092

Light collection optimization in scintillator-based gamma-ray spectrometers

G. Hull, S. Du, T. Niedermayr, S. Payne, N. Cherepy, A. Drobshoff, L. Fabris

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

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Scintillator-based gamma-ray detectors are being actively pursued for homeland security applications. A key property of such detectors is their energy resolution which enables faster detection and more precise identification of gamma-ray sources. In order to obtain the best energy resolution with a given scintillator material, it is crucial to collect the largest fraction possible of the light emitted after gamma-ray absorption. Different techniques to maximize the light collection efficiency were investigated and tested experimentally. In particular, the effect of the scintillator geometry has been simulated with Detect2000. Also, a number of wrapping materials have been tested for their reflectivity and their performance in terms of improving the energy resolution in a BGO-based gamma-ray detector. The best results were obtained with a tapered cylinder geometry and the GORE DRP tape.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	384-388
Number of pages	5
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	588
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2008.01.092
State	Published - Apr 11 2008
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The authors would like to thank Tom Dykes at WL Gore for providing them with diffuse reflector material samples. The authors would like also to express their thanks to the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) of the Department of Homeland Security for their support. This work was performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy by University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48. We would like to express our gratitude to Wolfgang Stoeffl (LLNL) for the valuable advice and insights.

Funders	Funder number
U.S. Department of Energy
University of California
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory	W-7405-Eng-48

Keywords

BGO energy resolution
Diffuse reflectors
Gamma radiation detectors
Ray-trace modeling
Scintillator detectors
Scintillators

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10.1016/j.nima.2008.01.092

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title = "Light collection optimization in scintillator-based gamma-ray spectrometers",

abstract = "Scintillator-based gamma-ray detectors are being actively pursued for homeland security applications. A key property of such detectors is their energy resolution which enables faster detection and more precise identification of gamma-ray sources. In order to obtain the best energy resolution with a given scintillator material, it is crucial to collect the largest fraction possible of the light emitted after gamma-ray absorption. Different techniques to maximize the light collection efficiency were investigated and tested experimentally. In particular, the effect of the scintillator geometry has been simulated with Detect2000. Also, a number of wrapping materials have been tested for their reflectivity and their performance in terms of improving the energy resolution in a BGO-based gamma-ray detector. The best results were obtained with a tapered cylinder geometry and the GORE DRP tape.",

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AU - Hull, G.

AU - Du, S.

AU - Niedermayr, T.

AU - Payne, S.

AU - Cherepy, N.

AU - Drobshoff, A.

AU - Fabris, L.

PY - 2008/4/11

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AB - Scintillator-based gamma-ray detectors are being actively pursued for homeland security applications. A key property of such detectors is their energy resolution which enables faster detection and more precise identification of gamma-ray sources. In order to obtain the best energy resolution with a given scintillator material, it is crucial to collect the largest fraction possible of the light emitted after gamma-ray absorption. Different techniques to maximize the light collection efficiency were investigated and tested experimentally. In particular, the effect of the scintillator geometry has been simulated with Detect2000. Also, a number of wrapping materials have been tested for their reflectivity and their performance in terms of improving the energy resolution in a BGO-based gamma-ray detector. The best results were obtained with a tapered cylinder geometry and the GORE DRP tape.

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KW - Ray-trace modeling

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Light collection optimization in scintillator-based gamma-ray spectrometers

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Keywords

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