Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors

C. L. Wang; M. L. Crow; L. L. Funk; B. W. Hannan; J. P. Hodges; R. A. Riedel

doi:10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839

Optimizing ZnS/⁶LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors

C. L. Wang
, M. L. Crow
, L. L. Funk
, B. W. Hannan
, J. P. Hodges
, R. A. Riedel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper we compare the performance of grooved and flat ZnS/⁶LiF scintillators in a wavelength-shifting-fiber (WLSF) detector. Flat ZnS/⁶LiF scintillators with the thickness L=0.2-0.8 mm were characterized using photon counting and pulse-height analysis and compared to a grooved scintillator of approximately 0.8 mm thick. While a grooved scintillator considerably increases the apparent thickness of the scintillator to neutrons for a given coating thickness, we find that the flat scintillators perform better than the grooved scintillators in terms of both light yield and neutron detection efficiency. The flat 0.8-mm-thick scintillator has the highest light output, and it is 52% higher compared with a grooved scintillator of same thickness. The lower light output of the grooved scintillator as compared to the flat scintillator is consistent with the greater scintillator-WLSF separation and the much larger average emission angle of the grooved scintillator. We also find that the average light cone width, or photon travel-length as measured using time-of-flight powder diffraction of diamond and vanadium, decreases with increasing L in the range of L=0.6-0.8 mm. This result contrasts with the traditional Swank diffusion model for micro-composite scintillators, and could be explained by a decrease in photon diffusion-coefficient or an increase in micro-particle content in the flat scintillator matrix for the thicker scintillators.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781467398626
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839
State	Published - Oct 3 2016
Event	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015 - San Diego, United States Duration: Oct 31 2015 → Nov 7 2015

Publication series

Name	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015

Conference

Conference	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Diego
Period	10/31/15 → 11/7/15

Access to Document

10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839

Cite this

Wang, C. L., Crow, M. L., Funk, L. L., Hannan, B. W., Hodges, J. P., & Riedel, R. A. (2016). Optimizing ZnS/⁶LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors. In 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015 Article 7581839 (2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839

@inproceedings{bd67f004392049dbba25db713aef00f2,

title = "Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors",

abstract = "In this paper we compare the performance of grooved and flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators in a wavelength-shifting-fiber (WLSF) detector. Flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators with the thickness L=0.2-0.8 mm were characterized using photon counting and pulse-height analysis and compared to a grooved scintillator of approximately 0.8 mm thick. While a grooved scintillator considerably increases the apparent thickness of the scintillator to neutrons for a given coating thickness, we find that the flat scintillators perform better than the grooved scintillators in terms of both light yield and neutron detection efficiency. The flat 0.8-mm-thick scintillator has the highest light output, and it is 52\% higher compared with a grooved scintillator of same thickness. The lower light output of the grooved scintillator as compared to the flat scintillator is consistent with the greater scintillator-WLSF separation and the much larger average emission angle of the grooved scintillator. We also find that the average light cone width, or photon travel-length as measured using time-of-flight powder diffraction of diamond and vanadium, decreases with increasing L in the range of L=0.6-0.8 mm. This result contrasts with the traditional Swank diffusion model for micro-composite scintillators, and could be explained by a decrease in photon diffusion-coefficient or an increase in micro-particle content in the flat scintillator matrix for the thicker scintillators.",

author = "Wang, \{C. L.\} and Crow, \{M. L.\} and Funk, \{L. L.\} and Hannan, \{B. W.\} and Hodges, \{J. P.\} and Riedel, \{R. A.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 IEEE.; 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015 ; Conference date: 31-10-2015 Through 07-11-2015",

year = "2016",

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doi = "10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839",

language = "English",

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Wang, CL, Crow, ML , Funk, LL, Hannan, BW, Hodges, JP & Riedel, RA 2016, Optimizing ZnS/⁶LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors. in 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015., 7581839, 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015, San Diego, United States, 10/31/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839

Optimizing ZnS/⁶LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors. / Wang, C. L.; Crow, M. L.; Funk, L. L. et al.
2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2016. 7581839 (2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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T1 - Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors

AU - Wang, C. L.

AU - Crow, M. L.

AU - Funk, L. L.

AU - Hannan, B. W.

AU - Hodges, J. P.

AU - Riedel, R. A.

PY - 2016/10/3

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N2 - In this paper we compare the performance of grooved and flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators in a wavelength-shifting-fiber (WLSF) detector. Flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators with the thickness L=0.2-0.8 mm were characterized using photon counting and pulse-height analysis and compared to a grooved scintillator of approximately 0.8 mm thick. While a grooved scintillator considerably increases the apparent thickness of the scintillator to neutrons for a given coating thickness, we find that the flat scintillators perform better than the grooved scintillators in terms of both light yield and neutron detection efficiency. The flat 0.8-mm-thick scintillator has the highest light output, and it is 52% higher compared with a grooved scintillator of same thickness. The lower light output of the grooved scintillator as compared to the flat scintillator is consistent with the greater scintillator-WLSF separation and the much larger average emission angle of the grooved scintillator. We also find that the average light cone width, or photon travel-length as measured using time-of-flight powder diffraction of diamond and vanadium, decreases with increasing L in the range of L=0.6-0.8 mm. This result contrasts with the traditional Swank diffusion model for micro-composite scintillators, and could be explained by a decrease in photon diffusion-coefficient or an increase in micro-particle content in the flat scintillator matrix for the thicker scintillators.

AB - In this paper we compare the performance of grooved and flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators in a wavelength-shifting-fiber (WLSF) detector. Flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators with the thickness L=0.2-0.8 mm were characterized using photon counting and pulse-height analysis and compared to a grooved scintillator of approximately 0.8 mm thick. While a grooved scintillator considerably increases the apparent thickness of the scintillator to neutrons for a given coating thickness, we find that the flat scintillators perform better than the grooved scintillators in terms of both light yield and neutron detection efficiency. The flat 0.8-mm-thick scintillator has the highest light output, and it is 52% higher compared with a grooved scintillator of same thickness. The lower light output of the grooved scintillator as compared to the flat scintillator is consistent with the greater scintillator-WLSF separation and the much larger average emission angle of the grooved scintillator. We also find that the average light cone width, or photon travel-length as measured using time-of-flight powder diffraction of diamond and vanadium, decreases with increasing L in the range of L=0.6-0.8 mm. This result contrasts with the traditional Swank diffusion model for micro-composite scintillators, and could be explained by a decrease in photon diffusion-coefficient or an increase in micro-particle content in the flat scintillator matrix for the thicker scintillators.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84994107302

U2 - 10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839

DO - 10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84994107302

T3 - 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015

BT - 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015

Y2 - 31 October 2015 through 7 November 2015

ER -

Wang CL, Crow ML , Funk LL, Hannan BW, Hodges JP, Riedel RA. Optimizing ZnS/⁶LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors. In 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2016. 7581839. (2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015). doi: 10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581839