Search Menu
DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
Search Scholarly Publications

Title: Neutron response characterization for an EJ299-33 plastic scintillation detector

Abstract

Organic scintillation detectors have shown promise as neutron detectors for characterizing special nuclear materials in various arms-control and homeland-security applications. Recent advances have yielded a new plastic scintillator – EJ299-33 – with pulse-shape-discrimination (PSD) capability. Plastic scintillators would have a much-expanded range of deployment relative to liquids and crystals. Here, we present a full characterization of pulse-height response to fission-energy neutrons for an EJ299-33 detector with 7.62-by-7.62-cm cylindrical active volume, and compare with an EJ309 liquid scintillator in the same assembly. Scintillation light-output relations, energy resolutions, and response matrices are presented for both detectors. A continuous-spectrum neutron source, obtained via the bombardment of 27Al with 7.44-MeV deuterons at the Edwards Accelerator Facility at Ohio University, was used for the measurement. A new procedure for evaluating and comparing PSD performance is presented which accounts for the effect of the light-output relation on the ability to detect low-energy neutrons. The EJ299-33 is shown to have considerable deficit in matrix condition, and in PSD figure of merit when compared to EJ309, especially when neutron energy is taken into account. Nevertheless the EJ299 is likely to bring a modest PSD capability into a array of field applications that are not accessible to liquids ormore » crystals.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [2];  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
  2. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Physics
  3. Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (United States). Dept. of Physics
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
Contributing Org.:
Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
1253949
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1365683
Grant/Contract Number:  
FG02-88ER40387; NA0002534
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 759; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; plastic scintillator; response matrix; nuclear non-proliferation; neutron detection; pulse-shape discrimination; scintillation light; Responsematrix; Nuclearnon-proliferation; Neutrondetection

Citation Formats

Lawrence, Chris C., Febbraro, Michael, Massey, Thomas N., Flaska, Marek, Becchetti, F. D., and Pozzi, Sara A. Neutron response characterization for an EJ299-33 plastic scintillation detector. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2014.04.062.
Copy to clipboard
Lawrence, Chris C., Febbraro, Michael, Massey, Thomas N., Flaska, Marek, Becchetti, F. D., & Pozzi, Sara A. Neutron response characterization for an EJ299-33 plastic scintillation detector. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.04.062
Copy to clipboard
Lawrence, Chris C., Febbraro, Michael, Massey, Thomas N., Flaska, Marek, Becchetti, F. D., and Pozzi, Sara A. Sat . "Neutron response characterization for an EJ299-33 plastic scintillation detector". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.04.062. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1253949.
Copy to clipboard
@article{osti_1253949,
title = {Neutron response characterization for an EJ299-33 plastic scintillation detector},
author = {Lawrence, Chris C. and Febbraro, Michael and Massey, Thomas N. and Flaska, Marek and Becchetti, F. D. and Pozzi, Sara A.},
abstractNote = {Organic scintillation detectors have shown promise as neutron detectors for characterizing special nuclear materials in various arms-control and homeland-security applications. Recent advances have yielded a new plastic scintillator – EJ299-33 – with pulse-shape-discrimination (PSD) capability. Plastic scintillators would have a much-expanded range of deployment relative to liquids and crystals. Here, we present a full characterization of pulse-height response to fission-energy neutrons for an EJ299-33 detector with 7.62-by-7.62-cm cylindrical active volume, and compare with an EJ309 liquid scintillator in the same assembly. Scintillation light-output relations, energy resolutions, and response matrices are presented for both detectors. A continuous-spectrum neutron source, obtained via the bombardment of 27Al with 7.44-MeV deuterons at the Edwards Accelerator Facility at Ohio University, was used for the measurement. A new procedure for evaluating and comparing PSD performance is presented which accounts for the effect of the light-output relation on the ability to detect low-energy neutrons. The EJ299-33 is shown to have considerable deficit in matrix condition, and in PSD figure of merit when compared to EJ309, especially when neutron energy is taken into account. Nevertheless the EJ299 is likely to bring a modest PSD capability into a array of field applications that are not accessible to liquids or crystals.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2014.04.062},
journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
number = C,
volume = 759,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat May 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sat May 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}
Copy to clipboard
Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.04.062
Copyright Statement
Other availability
Search WorldCat Search WorldCat to find libraries that may hold this journal
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 42 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science
Save / Share:
Export Metadata
Save to My Library
You must Sign In or Create an Account in order to save documents to your library.

Works referenced in this record:

Pulse shape discrimination in inorganic and organic scintillators. I
journal, August 1971

  • Winyard, R. A.; Lutkin, J. E.; McBeth, G. W.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 95, Issue 1, p. 141-153
  • DOI: 10.1016/0029-554X(71)90054-1

Plastic scintillators with efficient neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination
journal, March 2012

  • Zaitseva, Natalia; Rupert, Benjamin L.; PaweŁczak, Iwona
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 668, p. 88-93
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2011.11.071

Pulse shape discrimination in the plastic scintillator EJ-299-33
journal, September 2013

  • Pozzi, S. A.; Bourne, M. M.; Clarke, S. D.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 723
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.04.085

Experimental tests of the new plastic scintillator with pulse shape discrimination capabilities EJ-299-33
journal, January 2014

  • Cester, D.; Nebbia, G.; Stevanato, L.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 735
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.09.031

Radioluminescent characteristics of the EJ 299-33 plastic scintillator
journal, November 2013

  • Nyibule, S.; Henry, E.; Schröder, W. U.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 728
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.06.020

Neutron light output response and resolution functions in EJ-309 liquid scintillation detectors
journal, July 2013

  • Enqvist, Andreas; Lawrence, Christopher C.; Wieger, Brian M.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 715
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.03.032

Fast-neutron spectroscopy with thick organic scintillators
journal, January 1969

Response characterization for an EJ315 deuterated organic-liquid scintillation detector for neutron spectroscopy
journal, November 2013

  • Lawrence, Chris C.; Enqvist, Andreas; Flaska, Marek
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 727
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.05.172

A Measurement of the 27 Al ( d, n ) Spectrum for Use in Neutron Detector Calibration
journal, June 1998

  • Massey, T. N.; Al-Quraishi, S.; Brient, C. E.
  • Nuclear Science and Engineering, Vol. 129, Issue 2
  • DOI: 10.13182/NSE98-A1971

Gamma-calibration of NE 213 scintillation counters
journal, March 1982

Calculation of the light pulse distributions induced by fast neutrons in organic scintillation detectors
journal, June 2010

  • Enqvist, Andreas; Pázsit, Imre
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 618, Issue 1-3
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2010.02.119

Neutron spectroscopy with fast waveform digitizer
journal, February 2003

  • Kornilov, N. V.; Khriatchkov, V. A.; Dunaev, M.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 497, Issue 2-3
  • DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9002(02)01790-4

Total characterization of neutron detectors with a 252Cf source and a new light output determination
journal, February 2009

  • Kornilov, N. V.; Fabry, I.; Oberstedt, S.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 599, Issue 2-3
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2008.10.032

A study of the real-time deconvolution of digitized waveforms with pulse pile up for digital radiation spectroscopy
journal, June 2005

  • Guo, Weijun; Gardner, Robin P.; Mayo, Charles W.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 544, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2004.12.036

A measurement of the light output function of the deuterated liquid scintillator NE-230 to recoil deuterons with energies between 0.62 and 14.5 MeV
journal, June 1992

  • Croft, S.; Adams, J. M.; Bond, D. S.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 316, Issue 2-3
  • DOI: 10.1016/0168-9002(92)90917-S

Unfolding procedures
journal, November 2003

Overview of spectral unfolding techniques and uncertainty estimation
journal, December 2010

Analysis of the pulse shape mechanism in a plastic scintillator with efficient neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination
journal, November 2013

  • Hawkes, N. P.; Taylor, G. C.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 729
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.07.071
    Sort by:
    [ × clear filter / sort ]

    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Proton light yield in organic scintillators using a double time-of-flight technique
    journal, July 2018

    • Brown, J. A.; Goldblum, B. L.; Laplace, T. A.
    • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 124, Issue 4
    • DOI: 10.1063/1.5039632

    A new compact neutron/gamma ray scintillation detector
    journal, January 2016

    • Buffler, A.; Comrie, A. C.; Smit, F. D.
    • International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 44
    • DOI: 10.1142/s2010194516602283
      Sort by:
      [ × clear filter / sort ]

      Similar Records in DOE PAGES and OSTI.GOV collections: