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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Fission-fragment detector for DANCE based on thin scintillating films

We report a fission-fragment detector based on thin scintillating films has been built to serve as a trigger/veto detector in neutron-induced fission measurements at DANCE. The fissile material is surrounded by scintillating films providing 4π detection of the fission fragments. The scintillation photons were registered with silicon photomultipliers. A measurement of the 235 U (n,f) reaction with this detector at DANCE revealed a correct time-of-flight spectrum and provided an estimate for the efficiency of the prototype detector of 11.6(7)%. Finally, design and test measurements with the detector are described.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Method for measuring multiple scattering corrections between liquid scintillators

In this study, a time-of-flight method is proposed to experimentally quantify the fractions of neutrons scattering between scintillators. An array of scintillators is characterized in terms of crosstalk with this method by measuring a californium source, for different neutron energy thresholds. The spectral information recorded by the scintillators can be used to estimate the fractions of neutrons multiple scattering. With the help of a correction to Feynman's point model theory to account for multiple scattering, these fractions can in turn improve the mass reconstruction of fissile materials under investigation.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Applications of C 7 LYC scintillators in fast neutron spectroscopy

Here, the capabilities of 7 Li-enriched Cs 2 7 LiYCl 6 (C 7 LYC) scintillation detectors for fast neutron spectroscopy are explored in benchmark experiments that exploit its excellent pulse-shape discrimination between neutrons and γ rays, and its unprecedented ≈10% energy resolution for fast neutrons in the few MeV range, obtained through the 35 Cl(n,p) reaction. Energy- and angle-resolved elastic and inelastic neutron scattering cross-section measurements of 56 Fe(n,n’) were performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory with a pulsed white neutron source and an array of 1" x 1" C 7 LYC crystals. The results convincingly establish the utility of this dual n/γ scintillator for fast neutron spectroscopy. Intrinsic efficiency measurements of both 1" x 1" and the first ever 3" x 3" C 7 LYC crystal have been initiated, using mono-energetic fast neutron beams at UMass Lowell generated via the 7 Li(p,n) reaction. Finally, the spectroscopic capabilities and potential of C 7 LYC are discussed in the context of developing this emerging scintillator for targeted science applications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nature of Moisture-Induced fogging defects in scintillator plastic

Polyvinyl toluene (PVT) scintillator plastic may degrade in the field due to inward water diffusion at elevated temperatures, which exceeds the saturation limit at lower temperatures, and after long periods of time (e.g., many years), leads to the formation of disk-like defects that attenuate scintillation light, leading to detector degradation. In this work, using fractography and high-magnification optical and electron microscopy to characterize the water-induced defects, a model of the fogging process is hypothesized as follows: excess water present at low temperatures diffuses to spheroids to minimize contact with the hydrophobic polymer. Through the hydrophobic effect, the entropy of water increases by forming nanoclusters which minimizes the contact between the water and the PVT. As the water nanoclusters grow, they break and fold the polymer into densely-packed crystalline regions creating more space for water within the spheroids. The polymer outside the spheroid resists the shrinkage which builds up tension within the spheroid. Once the tensile stress exceeds the yield strength of the plastic, the spheroid is torn in half resulting in a defect. Excess water then drains into the cavities along the disk thereby further increasing its entropy. Slower cooling (over 1 day) leads to larger spheroids and hence, larger “permanent” defects. Freezing causes some defects to further grow due to the expansion of water to ice. These findings imply that the remaining lifetime of scintillator plastic in the field could be predicted using temperature and humidity data thereby mitigating security risks of degraded radiation portal monitors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Boron-loaded organic glass scintillators

Herein we report the progress towards an organic glass scintillator with fast and thermal neutron sensitivity providing “triple” pulse shape discrimination (PSD) through the inclusion of a boron-incorporated aromatic molecule. Here, the commercially available molecule 2-(p-tolyl)-1,3,2-dioxaborinane (TDB) can be readily synthesized in one step using inexpensive materials and incorporated into the organic glass scintillator at 20% by weight or 0.25% 10 B by mass. In addition, we demonstrate that TDB can be easily scaled up and formulated into organic glass scintillator samples to produce a thermal neutron capture signal with a light yield equivalent to 120.4 ± 3.7 keVee, which is the highest value reported in the literature to date.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

How silicon and boron dopants govern the cryogenic scintillation properties of N -type GaAs

This work is the first report describing how the concentrations of silicon and boron govern the cryogenic scintillation properties of n-type GaAs. It shows that valence band holes are promptly trapped on radiative centers and then combine radiatively with silicon donor band electrons at rates that increase with the density of free carriers. It also presents the range of silicon and boron concentrations needed for efficient light emission under X-ray excitation, which along with its low band gap and apparent absence of afterglow, make scintillating GaAs suitable for the detection of rare, low-energy electronic excitations from interacting dark matter particles. A total of 29 samples from four different suppliers were studied. Luminosities and timing responses were measured for the four principal emission bands centered at 860, 930, 1070, and 1335 nm, and for the total emissions. Excitation pulses of 40 kVp X-rays were provided by a light-excited X-ray tube driven by an ultra-fast laser. Scintillation emissions from 800 to 1350 nm were measured using an InGaAs photomultiplier. Within the concentration ranges of free carriers from 2 x 10 16 /cm 3 to 6 x 10 17 /cm 3 and boron from 1.5 × 10 18 /cm 3 to 6 x 10 18 /cm 3 , nine samples have luminosities > 70 photons/keV and two have luminosities > 110 photons/keV. Other samples in that range have lower luminosities due to higher concentrations of non-radiative centers. The decay times decrease by typically a factor of ten with increasing free carrier concentrations from 10 17 /cm 3 to 2 x 10 18 /cm 3 .

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Luminescence and scintillation properties of XPO 4 :Nd 3+ (X = Y, Lu, Sc, La) crystals

Due to their very fast short-wavelength emission, neodymium-doped materials are a subject of current interest as potential scintillators. Although the initial reports regarding neodymium-doped orthophosphates (in crystalline form) and their scintillation properties appeared almost twenty years ago, they remain an interesting class of materials since there is no in-depth understanding of their fundamental scintillation mechanism. In the present research, we focus on the crystalline systems: XPO 4 :Nd 3+ , where X = Y, Lu, La, Sc. The pulse height, optical absorption, radioluminescence and photoluminescence spectra were investigated and are reported here for various temperatures from 10 to 350 K. Here, results of both low and high temperature thermoluminescence measurements are reported in this communication.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Study of the filter method for neutron pulse-height distributions measured with organic scintillators

Identification of neutron sources is of interest in several fields, such as homeland security or basic nu-clear physics. Organic scintillators offer the possibility to unfold fast-neutron energy spectra. Since organic scintillators are sensitive to neutrons and gamma-rays, a method to discriminate these two types of particles is required. This paper is focused on investigation of the discrimination properties of the filter method by using a new procedure. We compare the results of an experimental filter method to a digital pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) method based on charge integration. In addition, these methods are compared to the simulation results obtained with the MCNPX-PoliMi code. The experimental and nu-merical investigations were performed with a 252Cf spontaneous-fission neutron source. The integration of the number of counts gave the relative differences between the experimental filter and digital PSD neutron pulse-height distributions (PHDs) and simulated PHDs less than approximately 5% in the range between 60 keVee and 1.715 MeVee of light output. Above 1.715 MeVee, the PSD method has advantages over the filter method, due to the filter method having significantly worse counting statistics. The results show that the filter method has potential for robust neutron measurements when the PSD method cannot be applied, such as for ‘old’ organic plastic scintillators without PSD capability.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Neutron and γ-Ray Detection via 6 Li Substitution in Undoped and Tl-Doped Zero-Dimensional Perovskite Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 Scintillators

Radiation detectors are crucial in a wide variety of research and commercial applications, such as oil and gas exploration, medical imaging, nuclear nonproliferation, and homeland security. Neutron and gamma-ray detectors are fundamental components in portal monitors at ports and border crossings, bolstering national security against radiological threats. This study presents a dual-mode scintillator, undoped and Tl-doped 6 Li-Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 , and demonstrates its potential as a promising material for simultaneous thermal neutron and gamma-ray detection. We explore the Bridgman growth of both undoped and thallium doped Li → Cu and Li → Cs substitutional systems with various Li doping levels and assess their impact on scintillation properties. Under 662 keV gamma-ray excitation, the undoped crystals had light yields up to 35,900 ph/MeV, with energy resolutions down to 4.5%. The Tl-doped crystals performed better than the undoped crystals with light yields peaking at 65,900 ph/MeV and energy resolutions as low as 3.5%. When exposed to a moderated 252 Cf excitation source, our crystals had light yields between 102,900 and 167,200 photons per thermal neutron capture, with a full energy thermal neutron peak reaching 3 MeV in gamma equivalent energy. Pulse shape discrimination studies reveal well-separated gamma and neutron events, resulting in Figure-Of-Merit (FOM) as high as 3.7. Furthermore, these findings highlight the potential of Li-doped Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 as a viable candidate for next-generation dual-mode scintillators.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fast Rossi-alpha Measurements of Plutonium Using Organic Scintillators

In this work, Rossi-alpha measurements were simultaneously performed with a 3 He-based detection system and an organic scintillator-based detection system. The assembly is 15 kg of plutonium (93 wt% 239 Pu) reflected by copper and moderated by lead. The goal of Rossi-alpha measurements is to estimate the prompt neutron decay constant, alpha. Simulations estimate $k_{eff}$ = 0:624 and α = 52:3 ± 2:5 ns for the measured assembly. The organic scintillator system estimated α = 47:4 ± 2:0 ns, having a 9.37% error (though the 1.09 standard deviation confidence intervals overlapped). The 3 He system estimated α = 37 μs. The known slowing down time of the 3 He system is 35-40 μs, which means the slowing down time dominates and obscures the prompt neutron decay constant. Subsequently, the organic scintillator system should be used for assemblies with alpha much less than 35 μs.

3He↗
DOE OSTI2013

Measurement of the muon-induced neutron yield in liquid scintillator and stainless steel at LNGS with the LVD experiment

We describe the measurement of the muon-induced neutron yield in liquid scintillator and stainless steel (SS) at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), with the LVD experiment. The Large Volume Detector (LVD) is located in Hall A of the LNGS and is made of 1000 t of liquid scintillator and 1000 t of SS. Using an independent measurement to evaluate the background and with the support of a full Monte Carlo simulation based on Geant4, we measured a neutron yield of (2.9±0.6)×10{sup −4} and (1.5±0.3)×10{sup −3} in liquid scintillator and in stainless steel, respectively.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

R and D of crystal scintillators from enriched isotopes for high sensitivity double β decay experiments

Experiments to search for neutrinoless double beta decay enters to a new phase when a sensitivity on the level of T{sub 1/2}∼10{sup 26}−10{sup 28} yr is required. Scintillating low temperature detectors possess important properties required for high-sensitivity double beta decay experiments: presence of elements of interest, high energy resolution and detection efficiency, low level of background thanks to excellent particle discrimination ability. High concentration of isotope of interest and as low as possible radioactive contamination are important requirements to crystal scintillators. Other crucial issues are maximal output of detectors and minimal loss of enriched materials. Prospects of several scintillation materials, enriched in isotopes promising for double beta decay experiments, are discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Development of the scintillator-based probe for fast-ion losses in the HL-2A tokamak

A new scintillator-based lost fast-ion probe (SLIP) has been developed and operated in the HL-2A tokamak [L. W. Yan, X. R. Duan, X. T. Ding, J. Q. Dong, Q. W. Yang, Yi Liu, X. L. Zou, D. Q. Liu, W. M. Xuan, L. Y. Chen, J. Rao, X. M. Song, Y. Huang, W. C. Mao, Q. M. Wang, Q. Li, Z. Cao, B. Li, J. Y. Cao, G. J. Lei, J. H. Zhang, X. D. Li, W. Chen, J. Chen, C. H. Cui, Z. Y. Cui, Z. C. Deng, Y. B. Dong, B. B. Feng, Q. D. Gao, X. Y. Han, W. Y. Hong, M. Huang, X. Q. Ji, Z. H. Kang, D. F. Kong, T. Lan, G. S. Li, H. J. Li, Qing Li, W. Li, Y. G. Li, A. D. Liu, Z. T. Liu, C. W. Luo, X. H. Mao, Y. D. Pan, J. F. Peng, Z. B. Shi, S. D. Song, X. Y. Song, H. J. Sun, A. K. Wang, M. X. Wang, Y. Q. Wang, W. W. Xiao, Y. F. Xie, L. H. Yao, D. L. Yu, B. S. Yuan, K. J. Zhao, G. W. Zhong, J. Zhou, J. C. Yan, C. X. Yu, C. H. Pan, Y. Liu, and the HL-2A Team , Nucl. Fusion 51, 094016 (2011)] to measure the losses of neutral beam ions. The design of the probe is based on the concept of the α-particle detectors on Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) using scintillator plates. The probe is capable of traveling across an equatorial plane port and sweeping the aperture angle rotationally with respect to the axis of the probe shaft by two step motors, in order to optimize the radial position and the collimator angle. The energy and the pitch angle of the lost fast ions can be simultaneously measured if the two-dimensional image of scintillation light intensity due to the impact of the lost fast ions is detected. Measurements of the fast-ion losses using the probe have been performed during HL-2A neutral beam injection discharges. The clear experimental evidence of enhanced losses of beam ions during disruptions has been obtained by means of the SLIP system. A detailed description of the probe system and the first experimental results are reported.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

High-energy X-ray detection by hafnium-doped organic-inorganic hybrid scintillators prepared by sol-gel method

With the aim of enhancing the efficiency with which plastic scintillators detect high-energy X-rays, hafnium-doped organic-inorganic hybrid scintillators were fabricated via a sol-gel method. Transmission electron microscopy of sampled material reveals the presence of Hf{sub x}Si{sub 1−x}O{sub 2} nanoparticles, dispersed in a polymer matrix that constitutes the active material of the X-ray detector. With Hf{sub x}Si{sub 1−x}O{sub 2} nanoparticles incorporated in the polymer matrix, the absorption edge and the luminescence wavelength is shifted, which we attribute to Mie scattering. The detection efficiency for 67.4-keV X-rays in a 0.6-mm-thick piece of this material is two times better than the same thickness of a commercial plastic scintillator-NE142.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Monte Carlo simulation of the data acquisition chain of scintillation detectors

The good performance of a detector can be strongly affected by the instrumentation used to acquire the data. The possibility of anticipating how the acquisition chain will affect the signal can help in finding the best solution among different set-ups. In this work we developed a Monte Carlo code that aims to simulate the effect of the various components of a digital Data Acquisition system (DAQ) applied to scintillation detectors. The components included in the model are: the scintillator, the photomultiplier tube (PMT), the signal cable and the digitizer. We benchmarked the code against real data acquired with a NE213 scintillator, comparing simulated and real signal pulses induced by gamma-ray interaction. Then we studied the dependence of the energy resolution of a pulse height spectrum (PHS) on the sampling frequency and the bit resolution of the digitizer. We found that exceeding some values of the sampling frequency and the bit resolution improves only marginally the performance of the system. The method can be applied for the study of various detector systems relevant for nuclear techniques, such as in fusion diagnostics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Neutron emission measurement at the HL-2A tokamak device with a liquid scintillation detector

Neutron emission measurement at the HL-2A tokamak device with a liquid scintillation detector is described. The detector was placed at a location with little structure material in the field of view, and equipped with a gain monitoring system which could provide the possibility to evaluate the gain variation as well as to correct for the detector response. Time trace of the neutron emissivity was obtained and it was consistent with the result of a standard {sup 235}U fission chamber. During the plasma discharge the neutron yield could vary by about four orders of magnitude and the fluctuation of the detector gain was up to about 6%. Pulse height spectrum of the liquid scintillation detector was constructed and corrected with the aid of the gain monitoring system, and the correction was found to be essential for the assessment of the neutron energy spectrum. This successful measurement offered experience and confidence for the application of liquid scintillation detectors in the upcoming neutron camera system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Characterizing a fast-response, low-afterglow liquid scintillator for neutron time-of-flight diagnostics in fast ignition experiments

The characteristics of oxygen-enriched liquid scintillators with very low afterglow are investigated and optimized for application to a single-hit neutron spectrometer for fast ignition experiments. It is found that 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene has better characteristics as a liquid scintillator solvent than the conventional solvent, p-xylene. In addition, a benzophenon-doped BBQ liquid scintillator is shown to demonstrate very rapid time response, and therefore has potential for further use in neutron diagnostics with fast time resolution.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

System for measuring temporal profiles of scintillation at high and different linear energy transfers by using pulsed ion beams

We have developed a system for measuring the temporal profiles of scintillation at high linear energy transfer (LET) by using pulsed ion beams from a cyclotron. The half width at half maximum time resolution was estimated to be 1.5–2.2 ns, which we attributed mainly to the duration of the pulsed ion beam and timing jitter between the trigger signal and the arrival of the ion pulse. The temporal profiles of scintillation of BaF{sub 2} at different LETs were successfully observed. These results indicate that the proposed system is a powerful tool for analyzing the LET effects in temporal profiles of scintillation.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗