Radiation Tolerant Temperature-Invariant Scintillation Modules

Radiation detectors are an invaluable tool for space applications spanning planetary science, astrophysics, heliophysics, space weather, and dosimetry for human exploration. Scintillators are materials that generate a light flash with an intensity that is proportional to the ionizing energy deposited. However, scintillator efficiency gradually decays with increased exposure to radiation. For exploration missions to hostile environments, such as those around Jupiter, Venus or Mercury, large ionizing doses are expected for the scintillation material, rendering them useless. A common practice to mitigate dose effects is to anneal the scintillation materials. In addition, sensitivity, dictated by detector volume, is critical for science missions, such mapping H2O concentration over a planetary surface. This project will develop a scintillator module using advanced materials, such as Cs2LiYCl6(CLYC), LiSr2I5 (LSI), or Tl2LiYCl6 (TLYC), that provide both high-performance gamma ray and neutron spectroscopy within a single volume. Si photomultipliers (SiPM) will maximize the active volume relative to the total volume. The project will result in a large-volume, high-performance detector module, rigorously tested for flight, with protocols for annealing and science operation