Solid-State Neutron Detectors with Integrated Electronics for Nuclear Physics

At present, detectors of fast neutrons use liquid scintillators liquid scintillators can be dangerous to handle due to their low flash points and bulkiness, and the readout of the liquid scintillator by large PMTs limits the available position resolution and ability to operate in high magnetic fields. Large arrays of detectors are hampered by the large cost of many channels of electronics and the potential for data pile up in fully digital systems. The goal of this program is to develop a basic module that can be used to build larger detector systems with multiple position sensing elements. We will further develop newly discovered plastic scintillators that have neutron versus gamma pulse shape discrimination and couple them to solid-state detectors. We will optimize the light collection and determine the useful energy range while choosing the appropriate level of electronics integration to make a useful module. The phase-I combined RMDs plastic scintillators with its solid-state optical detectors to develop a spectroscopic neutron detector for nuclear physics research and other detector systems. We fabricated materials with various emission wavelengths to match the detection efficiency of the optical detector. Several solid state detectors were compared in measurements of mixed gamma and neutron fields up to 20 MeV. The Phase II effort is designed to produce a complete module that is tested and developed in a relevant environment, such as the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). The module can then be adapted to multiple applications as a stand-alone unit, or as a single element in a large array of detectors. We will complete the fine tuning of the scintillator properties to maximize the signal from the detector. We will develop the support apparatus for the optical detector. The work will maximize our ability to address the needs of DOE researchers while positioning RMD as a supplier of detectors that allow expanded research at a lower cost of operation and installation. Commercial Applications and other benefits: The proposed detector technology can be used to develop major neutron detection systems at multiple university and national labs across the USA, and additional sites worldwide. The technology is also promising for nuclear-nonproliferation, other neutron imaging systems, astronomy, and non-destructive testing.