Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors
Abstract
In this paper we compare the performance of grooved and flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators in a wavelength shifting-fiber (WLSF) detector. Flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators with the thickness L=0.2-0.8 mm were characterized using photon counting and pulse-height analysis and compared to a grooved scintillator of approximately 0.8 mm thick. While a grooved scintillator considerably increases the apparent thickness of the scintillator to neutrons for a given coating thickness, we find that the flat scintillators perform better than the grooved scintillators in terms of both light yield and neutron detection efficiency. The flat 0.8-mm-thick scintillator has the highest light output, and it is 52% higher compared with a grooved scintillator of same thickness. The lower light output of the grooved scintillator as compared to the flat scintillator is consistent with the greater scintillator-WLSF separation and the much larger average emission angle of the grooved scintillator. We also find that the average light cone width, or photon travel-length as measured using time-of-flight powder diffraction of diamond and vanadium, decreases with increasing L in the range of L=0.6-0.8 mm. This result contrasts with the traditional Swank diffusion model for micro-composite scintillators, and could be explained by a decrease in photon diffusion-coefficient or an increase in micro-particlemore »
- Authors:
-
- ORNL
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Spallation Neutron Source (SNS)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1328280
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, San Diego, CA, USA, 20151101, 20151106
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Crow, Lowell, Funk, Loren L, Hannan, Bruce W, Hodges, Jason P, Riedel, Richard A, and Wang, Cai-Lin. Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web.
Crow, Lowell, Funk, Loren L, Hannan, Bruce W, Hodges, Jason P, Riedel, Richard A, & Wang, Cai-Lin. Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors. United States.
Crow, Lowell, Funk, Loren L, Hannan, Bruce W, Hodges, Jason P, Riedel, Richard A, and Wang, Cai-Lin. 2016.
"Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors". United States.
@article{osti_1328280,
title = {Optimizing ZnS/6LiF scintillators for wavelength-shifting-fiber neutron detectors},
author = {Crow, Lowell and Funk, Loren L and Hannan, Bruce W and Hodges, Jason P and Riedel, Richard A and Wang, Cai-Lin},
abstractNote = {In this paper we compare the performance of grooved and flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators in a wavelength shifting-fiber (WLSF) detector. Flat ZnS/6LiF scintillators with the thickness L=0.2-0.8 mm were characterized using photon counting and pulse-height analysis and compared to a grooved scintillator of approximately 0.8 mm thick. While a grooved scintillator considerably increases the apparent thickness of the scintillator to neutrons for a given coating thickness, we find that the flat scintillators perform better than the grooved scintillators in terms of both light yield and neutron detection efficiency. The flat 0.8-mm-thick scintillator has the highest light output, and it is 52% higher compared with a grooved scintillator of same thickness. The lower light output of the grooved scintillator as compared to the flat scintillator is consistent with the greater scintillator-WLSF separation and the much larger average emission angle of the grooved scintillator. We also find that the average light cone width, or photon travel-length as measured using time-of-flight powder diffraction of diamond and vanadium, decreases with increasing L in the range of L=0.6-0.8 mm. This result contrasts with the traditional Swank diffusion model for micro-composite scintillators, and could be explained by a decrease in photon diffusion-coefficient or an increase in micro-particle content in the flat scintillator matrix for the thicker scintillators.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1328280},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}