A High Performance Scintillator for Gamma Ray Spectroscopy

Low cost, large volume detectors are needed for homeland security applications and for monitoring nuclear stockpiles and nuclear contamination. The goal of this program is to develop purification, stoichiometry control, and crystal growth techniques to enable the production of large volume scintillator detectors with exceptionally superior performance. Phase I of this program was focused on the identification of the processes and techniques required for the growth of large diameter crystals. The effects of modifying the chemical composition of the crystal to improve its scintillation properties was also studied, resulting in improved scintillation performance. In Phase II of this program, materials preparation techniques will be established and optimized to develop a reproducible process for the growth of large diameter (1.5-inch) crystals. Alloying and doping will be used to further enhance scintillation properties as well as to enable dual mode (neutron/gamma) detection. A prototype handheld detector using COTS silicon photomultipliers will also be demonstrated.The success of this program promises to result in the increased availability of low-cost, large volume, high performance detectors for homeland security and radiation detection applications. Large-volume, high-resolution scintillators are exceptionally for detection of nuclear radiation. They have applications in monitoring for radioactive contamination in nuclear power plants, nuclear science, astronomy, and potentially well-logging.