The feasibility of using boron-loaded plastic fibers for neutron detection
The results from simulations and laboratory experiments with boron-loaded plastic scintillating fibers as a nondestructive assay tool are presented. Single and multiclad fibers in three diameters of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mm were examined for their application in neutron coincident counting. For this application, the simulation results show that various configurations of boro-loaded plastic scintillating fibers have a die-away time ({tau}) of 12 {micro}s with an efficiency ({var_epsilon}) of 50%. For a comparable efficiency, {sup 3}He proportional tubes have a typical die-away time of 50 {micro}s. The shortened die-away time can reduce the relative error for measurement of similar samples by up to 50%. Plastic scintillating fibers also offer flexible configurations with the potential to discriminate between signals from gamma-ray and neutron events. To date, the emphasis of the investigation has been the detection capability of plastic scintillating fibers for neutrons and gamma rays and evaluation of their ability to discriminate between the two events. Quantitative calculations and experiments have also been conducted to determine the light output, evaluate the noise,quantify light attenuation, and determine neutron detection efficiency. Current experimental data support the analytical results that boron-loaded plastic fibers can detect thermal neutrons with performance metrics that are comparable or better than those of {sup 3}He proportional tubes.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 296759
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-98-1891; CONF-980545-; ON: DE99000667; TRN: 99:003052
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 9. symposium on radiation measurements and applications, Ann Arbor, MI (United States), 11-14 May 1998; Other Information: PBD: [1998]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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