Novel Scintillator for Nuclear Physics Studies

75416S Inorganic scintillation crystals are a very important element of current and next generation experiments in. Scintillators are the most common detectors used In nuclear and particle physics experiments, the perfomance of the detection systems is often limited by the properties of the scintillators that are available for gamma-ray and neutron detection. This project will investigate a new scintillator that offers improved perfomance for the detection of gamma-rays and neutrons: good energy resolution and excellent timing resolution for gamma-rays, excellent light yield for neutrons. In addition, the new scintillator will allow discrimination between gamma and neutron events, on the basis of pulse shape and pulse height. In Phase, crystals of the new scintillator were grown, and its performance for gamma-ray and neutron detection was determined. In Phase II, large crystals of the scintillator will be grown, an extensive characterization of their properties for detecting neutrons (both thermal and fast) and gamma-rays will be conducted, and the new scintilltor will be optimized for gamma-ray and neutron detection. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed detector technology should be very promising for nuclear and particle physics experiments. It should also be useful in nuclear waste characterization, astronomy, homeland security, and bore hole logging.