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Position-Sensitive and Flight-Time Differentiable Single-Crystal Neutron Detector--Millennia Ceramics, Inc., 26918 Wolf Road, Bay Village, OH  44140-2248; 440-835-2660

Mr. H. Sayir, Principal Investigator

Mrs. Chris Marie Sayir, Business Official

DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-00ER83050

Amount:  $99,770

 

The currently employed scintillator materials are mainly ⁶Li-doped glass and ZnS, both of which display well-known limitations such as low light output and high gamma sensitivity in the case of ⁶Li-glass and optical opacity in the case of ZnS.  At present, there is no scintillator material proven to fulfill all the design criteria of newly developed DOE facilities.  In response to these shortcomings Millennia Ceramics, Inc. (MC) proposes to develop an efficient and cost-effective fiber–scintillator technology to achieve a high performance of thermal neutron detection.  The focus of the proposed research is to develop a novel single-crystal fiber-array neutron detector that is capable of position-sensitive and flight-time differentiable, at a superior efficiency and a moderate cost.  The design goal for the first phase of the SBIR is to produce small (400 mm²) single-crystal fiber-array coupons based on new compositions and for immediate evaluation.  We will produce of fiber array scintillator and will engineer fiber scintillator prototype for neutron detector in Phase II if Phase I efforts prove to be feasible.  The present proposal focuses on the ability to grow high-quality single crystals for scintillators of new compositions by a novel processing technique developed at Millennia Ceramics, Inc.  Accordingly, the proposed research has three innovations:  (1) new single crystal detector material development, (2) new single crystal fiber array based technology and (3) proprietary single crystal growth technique to ensure a high level of perfection at acceptable cost.

 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  A broad variety of applications in basic material science and fundamental material properties and their connection to the applied properties can be studied with improved neutron detector.  The fundamental insight gained in this technology may provide new material technology and processes.