Development of a 6LiF/ZnS-based neutron multiplicity counter

Sean Stave; Spencer Behling; Bruce Bernacki; Mary Bliss; Christian Cowles; Richard Kouzes; Azaree Lintereur; Sean Robinson; Edward Siciliano

doi:10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581917

Development of a ⁶LiF/ZnS-based neutron multiplicity counter

Sean Stave, Spencer Behling, Bruce Bernacki, Mary Bliss, Christian Cowles, Richard Kouzes, Azaree Lintereur, Sean Robinson, Edward Siciliano

Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Neutron multiplicity counters are used in safeguards to provide rapid assay of samples which contain an unknown amount of plutonium in a potentially unknown configuration. A project at PNNL is using regular and nickel-quenched ⁶LiF/ZnS neutron-scintillator sheets and wavelength shifting plastic for light pipes in place of ³He. A combination of laboratory and modeling work predicts a LiF/ZnS-based system to be able to match or exceed the performance of the best ³He-based systems available. Also, the Ni-quenched material is expected to allow for improved neutron/gamma-ray discrimination at twice the event rate relative to the non-Ni-quenched LiF/ZnS. A new system based on the LiF/ZnS material is under construction and components are being used to optimize the detection efficiency and neutron/gamma-ray discrimination properties. Components of the new system are partially constructed and undergoing performance testing utilizing high-speed digitizers with field programmable gate arrays to perform the neutron/gamma-ray discrimination. The expected performance of the full-scale system is expected to be nearly the same as for ³He-based systems and is due for completion in 2016.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781467398626
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581917
State	Published - Oct 3 2016
Event	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015 - San Diego, United States Duration: Oct 31 2015 → Nov 7 2015

Publication series

Name	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015

Other

Other	2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Diego
Period	10/31/15 → 11/7/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Instrumentation

Access to Document

10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581917

Cite this

Stave, S., Behling, S., Bernacki, B., Bliss, M., Cowles, C., Kouzes, R., Lintereur, A., Robinson, S., & Siciliano, E. (2016). Development of a ⁶LiF/ZnS-based neutron multiplicity counter. In 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015 Article 7581917 (2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581917

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abstract = "Neutron multiplicity counters are used in safeguards to provide rapid assay of samples which contain an unknown amount of plutonium in a potentially unknown configuration. A project at PNNL is using regular and nickel-quenched 6LiF/ZnS neutron-scintillator sheets and wavelength shifting plastic for light pipes in place of 3He. A combination of laboratory and modeling work predicts a LiF/ZnS-based system to be able to match or exceed the performance of the best 3He-based systems available. Also, the Ni-quenched material is expected to allow for improved neutron/gamma-ray discrimination at twice the event rate relative to the non-Ni-quenched LiF/ZnS. A new system based on the LiF/ZnS material is under construction and components are being used to optimize the detection efficiency and neutron/gamma-ray discrimination properties. Components of the new system are partially constructed and undergoing performance testing utilizing high-speed digitizers with field programmable gate arrays to perform the neutron/gamma-ray discrimination. The expected performance of the full-scale system is expected to be nearly the same as for 3He-based systems and is due for completion in 2016.",

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Stave, S, Behling, S, Bernacki, B, Bliss, M, Cowles, C, Kouzes, R, Lintereur, A, Robinson, S & Siciliano, E 2016, Development of a ⁶LiF/ZnS-based neutron multiplicity counter. in 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015., 7581917, 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015, San Diego, United States, 10/31/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581917

Development of a ⁶LiF/ZnS-based neutron multiplicity counter. / Stave, Sean; Behling, Spencer; Bernacki, Bruce et al.
2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2016. 7581917 (2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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Stave S, Behling S, Bernacki B, Bliss M, Cowles C, Kouzes R et al. Development of a ⁶LiF/ZnS-based neutron multiplicity counter. In 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2016. 7581917. (2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015). doi: 10.1109/NSSMIC.2015.7581917