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Title: 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 » content in the flat scintillator matrix for the thicker scintillators.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. 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}
}

Conference:
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