6LiF:ZnS(Ag) Mixture Optimization for a Highly Efficient Ultrathin Cold Neutron Detector

A. Osovizky; K. Pritchard; J. Ziegler; E. Binkley; Y. Yehuda-Zada; P. Tsai; A. Thompson; C. Cooksey; K. Siebein; N. Hadad; M. Jackson; C. Hurlbut; R. Ibberson; G. M. Baltic; C. F. Majkrzak; N. C. Maliszewskyj

doi:10.1109/TNS.2018.2809567

⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) Mixture Optimization for a Highly Efficient Ultrathin Cold Neutron Detector

A. Osovizky, K. Pritchard, J. Ziegler, E. Binkley, Y. Yehuda-Zada, P. Tsai, A. Thompson, C. Cooksey, K. Siebein, N. Hadad, M. Jackson, C. Hurlbut, R. Ibberson, G. M. Baltic, C. F. Majkrzak, N. C. Maliszewskyj

Neutron Technologies Division

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

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the optimization of ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator mixtures for an ultrathin (<2 mm), highly efficient cold neutron detector. Preliminary results with early prototypes demonstrated excellent absorption for 3.62-meV (4.75-Å wavelength) neutrons but mediocre neutron sensitivity ( ≈ 30%). Our optimization took the form of exploring the weight ratios of neutron converter, phosphor, and binder to promote high neutron capture probability and light transport within the medium. We characterized a series of ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag):binder mixtures for neutron absorption, light yield, and light transmission properties. In the process, we determined the optimal configuration for our requirements of millimeter thickness and cold neutron energy. Optimized prototypes exhibit excellent absorption and demonstrate neutron sensitivities of above 85% for 3.27-meV neutrons and gamma ray rejection ratios approaching 10^-7.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1025-1032
Number of pages	8
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Volume	65
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2018.2809567
State	Published - Apr 2018

Funding

Manuscript received January 15, 2018; accepted February 5, 2018. Date of publication February 28, 2018; date of current version April 12, 2018. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Keywords

Chromatic analysis neutron diffractometer or reflectometer (CANDOR)
LiF:ZnS(Ag)
neutron detector
wavelength shifting (WLS) fiber

Access to Document

10.1109/TNS.2018.2809567

Cite this

Osovizky, A., Pritchard, K., Ziegler, J., Binkley, E., Yehuda-Zada, Y., Tsai, P., Thompson, A., Cooksey, C., Siebein, K., Hadad, N., Jackson, M., Hurlbut, C., Ibberson, R., Baltic, G. M., Majkrzak, C. F., & Maliszewskyj, N. C. (2018). ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) Mixture Optimization for a Highly Efficient Ultrathin Cold Neutron Detector. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 65(4), 1025-1032. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2018.2809567

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title = "6LiF:ZnS(Ag) Mixture Optimization for a Highly Efficient Ultrathin Cold Neutron Detector",

abstract = "We report the optimization of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator mixtures for an ultrathin (<2 mm), highly efficient cold neutron detector. Preliminary results with early prototypes demonstrated excellent absorption for 3.62-meV (4.75-{\AA} wavelength) neutrons but mediocre neutron sensitivity ( ≈ 30%). Our optimization took the form of exploring the weight ratios of neutron converter, phosphor, and binder to promote high neutron capture probability and light transport within the medium. We characterized a series of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag):binder mixtures for neutron absorption, light yield, and light transmission properties. In the process, we determined the optimal configuration for our requirements of millimeter thickness and cold neutron energy. Optimized prototypes exhibit excellent absorption and demonstrate neutron sensitivities of above 85% for 3.27-meV neutrons and gamma ray rejection ratios approaching 10-7.",

keywords = "Chromatic analysis neutron diffractometer or reflectometer (CANDOR), LiF:ZnS(Ag), neutron detector, wavelength shifting (WLS) fiber",

author = "A. Osovizky and K. Pritchard and J. Ziegler and E. Binkley and Y. Yehuda-Zada and P. Tsai and A. Thompson and C. Cooksey and K. Siebein and N. Hadad and M. Jackson and C. Hurlbut and R. Ibberson and Baltic, {G. M.} and Majkrzak, {C. F.} and Maliszewskyj, {N. C.}",

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year = "2018",

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doi = "10.1109/TNS.2018.2809567",

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Osovizky, A, Pritchard, K, Ziegler, J, Binkley, E, Yehuda-Zada, Y, Tsai, P, Thompson, A, Cooksey, C, Siebein, K, Hadad, N, Jackson, M, Hurlbut, C, Ibberson, R, Baltic, GM, Majkrzak, CF & Maliszewskyj, NC 2018, '⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) Mixture Optimization for a Highly Efficient Ultrathin Cold Neutron Detector', IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 65, no. 4, pp. 1025-1032. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2018.2809567

TY - JOUR

T1 - 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) Mixture Optimization for a Highly Efficient Ultrathin Cold Neutron Detector

AU - Osovizky, A.

AU - Pritchard, K.

AU - Ziegler, J.

AU - Binkley, E.

AU - Yehuda-Zada, Y.

AU - Tsai, P.

AU - Thompson, A.

AU - Cooksey, C.

AU - Siebein, K.

AU - Hadad, N.

AU - Jackson, M.

AU - Hurlbut, C.

AU - Ibberson, R.

AU - Baltic, G. M.

AU - Majkrzak, C. F.

AU - Maliszewskyj, N. C.

PY - 2018/4

Y1 - 2018/4

N2 - We report the optimization of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator mixtures for an ultrathin (<2 mm), highly efficient cold neutron detector. Preliminary results with early prototypes demonstrated excellent absorption for 3.62-meV (4.75-Å wavelength) neutrons but mediocre neutron sensitivity ( ≈ 30%). Our optimization took the form of exploring the weight ratios of neutron converter, phosphor, and binder to promote high neutron capture probability and light transport within the medium. We characterized a series of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag):binder mixtures for neutron absorption, light yield, and light transmission properties. In the process, we determined the optimal configuration for our requirements of millimeter thickness and cold neutron energy. Optimized prototypes exhibit excellent absorption and demonstrate neutron sensitivities of above 85% for 3.27-meV neutrons and gamma ray rejection ratios approaching 10-7.

AB - We report the optimization of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator mixtures for an ultrathin (<2 mm), highly efficient cold neutron detector. Preliminary results with early prototypes demonstrated excellent absorption for 3.62-meV (4.75-Å wavelength) neutrons but mediocre neutron sensitivity ( ≈ 30%). Our optimization took the form of exploring the weight ratios of neutron converter, phosphor, and binder to promote high neutron capture probability and light transport within the medium. We characterized a series of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag):binder mixtures for neutron absorption, light yield, and light transmission properties. In the process, we determined the optimal configuration for our requirements of millimeter thickness and cold neutron energy. Optimized prototypes exhibit excellent absorption and demonstrate neutron sensitivities of above 85% for 3.27-meV neutrons and gamma ray rejection ratios approaching 10-7.

KW - Chromatic analysis neutron diffractometer or reflectometer (CANDOR)

KW - LiF:ZnS(Ag)

KW - neutron detector

KW - wavelength shifting (WLS) fiber

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