Solid polystyrene and deuterated polystyrene light output response to fast neutrons

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4947515· OSTI ID:22597133

Danly, C.; Merrill, F. E.; Volegov, P. L.; Wilde, C. ^[1]; Glebov, V. Yu. ^[2]; Hurlbut, C. ^[3]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
2. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, New York 14623 (United States)
3. Eljen Technology, Sweetwater, Texas 79556 (United States)

The Neutron Imaging System has proven to be an important diagnostic in studying DT implosion characteristics at the National Ignition Facility. The current system depends on a polystyrene scintillating fiber array, which detects fusion neutrons born in the DT hotspot as well as neutrons that have scattered to lower energies in the surrounding cold fuel. Increasing neutron yields at NIF, as well as a desire to resolve three-dimensional information about the fuel assembly, have provided the impetus to build and install two additional next-generation neutron imaging systems. We are currently investigating a novel neutron imaging system that will utilize a deuterated polystyrene (CD) fiber array instead of standard hydrogen-based polystyrene (CH). Studies of deuterated xylene or deuterated benzene liquid scintillator show an improvement in imaging resolution by a factor of two [L. Disdier et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75, 2134 (2004)], but also a reduction in light output [V. Bildstein et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 729, 188 (2013); M. I. Ojaruega, Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, 2009; M. T. Febbraro, Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, 2014] as compared to standard plastic. Tests of the relative light output of deuterated polystyrene and standard polystyrene were completed using 14 MeV fusion neutrons generated through implosions of deuterium-tritium filled capsules at the OMEGA laser facility. In addition, we collected data of the relative response of these two scintillators to a wide energy range of neutrons (1-800 MeV) at the Weapons Neutrons Research Facility. Results of these measurements are presented.

• OSTI ID: 22597133
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 87; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BENZENE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEUTERIUM
FAST NEUTRONS
FIBERS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
HYDROGEN
IMAGES
IMPLOSIONS
LASERS
LIQUIDS
MEV RANGE 10-100
POLYSTYRENE
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TRITIUM
US NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY
XYLENES