Measurement and comparison of the light output of Ni-doped 6LiF/ZnS for use in neutron multiplicity counting

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

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Alternatives to 3He for neutron detection have recently become attractive for safeguards applications. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing a neutron multiplicity counter that is based on 6LiF/ZnS. Some of the properties of this material, such as the scintillation light decay time, can be tuned by doping the material with a small amount of nickel. This doping affects other properties of the material, in particular the time dependence of the scintillation light output. To determine whether the nickel-doped or undoped 6LiF/ZnS material would better suit the neutron multiplicity counter system, a series of experiments compared the use of undoped 6LiF/ZnS and a Ni-doped variant using both small samples and full-scale detectors made using the two materials. Both materials were manufactured by Eljen Technology of Sweetwater, Texas. The Ni-doped variant produced less light than the undoped material and had a shorter decay time. For all choices of detection threshold above the electronic noise, the decrease in light output did not affect the detection efficiency of the system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781467398626
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 3 2016
Event2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Oct 31 2015Nov 7 2015

Publication series

Name2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015

Other

Other2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period10/31/1511/7/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Instrumentation

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