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Neutron Detector System Using
Cross Fiber Scintillator Readout—PartTec, Ltd, P.O.
Box 7317, 320 W. 8th Street,
Suite 217, Bloomington, IN 47407-7317; 812-856-6756, http://www.parttec.com
Dr. John M. Cameron, Principal
Investigator, john.cameron@parttec.com
Mr. Herschel Workman, Business
Official, heworkma@indiana.edu
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER84038
Amount: $749,931
New types of neutron detector technologies are required for
the next generation of neutron sources in the United
States, embodied at two extremes in size by
the SNS national laboratory and the regional university-based LENS
facility. For many neutron scattering
instruments, detector specifications call for high rate capability, large area
coverage, high spatial resolution, and low gamma sensitivity. Currently, no detector satisfies this demanding
set of requirements. To meet this set of
requirements, this project will develop a detector consisting of a scintillator
with two perpendicular arrays of wavelength-shifting optical fibers. In this configuration, neutrons are incident on the front face of the
scintillator, and scintillation light is collected in two perpendicular arrays
of wavelength-shifting (WLS) fibers optically coupled to the scintillator. The fibers conduct the scintillation light to
multi-anode photomultiplier tubes (MAPMTs), which produces analog pulse
information that is decoded by electronics to determine the coordinates of the
neutron capture event. Phase I studied
the light balance of the scintillator/fiber arrangement and implemented
prototype data acquisition electronics and software appropriate for a
crossed-fiber readout system. A
prototype scintillator/WLS-fiber detector was built, which demonstrated the
feasibility of these technologies. Phase II will design, optimize, and
construct a full-scale prototype of a neutron imaging detector with improved
position resolution, efficiency, and
maximum counting rate capability. A state-of-art electronics readout
system will be developed, and the detector will be thoroughly tested in a
thermal neutron beam.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Improved
neutron detection devices should expand the scope of scientific research and
development possible at neutron science instruments at both National and
University facilities. Extensions of the technology may find use as large area
neutron detectors for homelend security applications.