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Pixelized Scintillating Neutron Detector--BioTraces, Inc., 2190 Fox Mill Road, Suite 200, Herndon, VA  20171; 703-793-1550

Dr. Peter Volkovitsky, Principal Investigator

Dr. Andrzej Drukier, Business Official

DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-00ER82962

Amount:  $99,963

 

We propose to develop a scintillating neutron detector based on scintillating matrix containing ⁶Li, coupled with position sensitive photomultiplier.  The existing detectors developed by BioTraces, Inc. for gamma and beta particles use a similar concept and  permit a sub-millimetric spatial resolution combined with low noise and high dynamical range.  A proprietary on-line signal processing hardware and software rejects 95 percent of the background.  Phase I and Phase II efforts will develop the neutron detector with following parameters: size 25 cm x 25 cm; spatial resolution: 0.2 mm x 0.2 mm (possibly 0.1 mm x 0.1 mm); detection efficiency: 90 percent; temporal resolution: 100 ns; background: less than 1 count per pixel per hour.  For Phase I we plan to build 625 pixel  neutron detector with 0.2 mm x 0.2 mm spatial resolution, detection efficiency 90 percent,  and background less than 1 count per pixel per hour.  This detector will be based on the elements already used for gamma and beta pixelized scintillating detectors developed by BioTraces, Inc.

 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  2D neutron detectors are widely used in many applications like crystal diffractometry, polymer, biomolecule, ane cell membrane structure analysis, attenuation and phase-contrast tomography, and others.  The inexpensive, low-background 2D neutron scintillating detector may have a profitable market for both life science and material science applications.