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Title: Deuterated-xylene (xylene-d 10 ; EJ301D): A new, improved deuterated liquid scintillator for neutron energy measurements without time-of-flight

Abstract

In conjunction with Eljen Technology, Inc. (Sweetwater,TX) we have designed, constructed, and evaluated a 3 in. x 3 in. deuterated-xylene organic liquid scintillator (C8D10; EJ301D) as a fast neutron detector. Similar to deuterated benzene (C6D6; NE230, BC537, and EJ315) this scintillator can provide good pulse-shape discrimination between neutrons and gamma rays, has good timing characteristics, and can provide a light spectrum with peaks corresponding to discrete neutron energy groups up to ca. 20 MeV. Unlike benzene-based detectors, deuterated xylene is less volatile, less toxic, is not known to be carci-nogenic, has a higher flashpoint, and hence is much safer for many applications. In addition EJ301D can provide slightly more light output and better PSD than deuterated-benzene scintillators. We show that, as with deuterated-benzene scintillators, the light-response spectra can be unfolded to provide useable neutron energy spectra without need for time-of-flight (ToF). An array of these detectors arranged at many angles close to a reaction target can be much more effective ( x 10 to x 100 or more) than an array of long-path ToF detectors which must utilize a narrowly-bunched and pulse-selected beam. As we demonstrate using a small Van de Graaff accelerator, measurements can thus be performed when amore » bunched and pulse-selected beam (as needed for time-of-flight) is not available.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1366590
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1359635
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0002534; NA 0002534
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: 820; 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; Neutron detection; Neutron spectroscopy; Neutron scintillators; Deuterated scintillators; Nuclear safeguards

Citation Formats

Becchetti, F. D., Raymond, R. S., Torres-Isea, R. O., Di Fulvio, A., Clarke, S. D., Pozzi, S. A., and Febbraro, M. Deuterated-xylene (xylene-d 10 ; EJ301D): A new, improved deuterated liquid scintillator for neutron energy measurements without time-of-flight. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2016.02.058.
Becchetti, F. D., Raymond, R. S., Torres-Isea, R. O., Di Fulvio, A., Clarke, S. D., Pozzi, S. A., & Febbraro, M. Deuterated-xylene (xylene-d 10 ; EJ301D): A new, improved deuterated liquid scintillator for neutron energy measurements without time-of-flight. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.02.058
Becchetti, F. D., Raymond, R. S., Torres-Isea, R. O., Di Fulvio, A., Clarke, S. D., Pozzi, S. A., and Febbraro, M. Sat . "Deuterated-xylene (xylene-d 10 ; EJ301D): A new, improved deuterated liquid scintillator for neutron energy measurements without time-of-flight". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.02.058. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1366590.
@article{osti_1366590,
title = {Deuterated-xylene (xylene-d 10 ; EJ301D): A new, improved deuterated liquid scintillator for neutron energy measurements without time-of-flight},
author = {Becchetti, F. D. and Raymond, R. S. and Torres-Isea, R. O. and Di Fulvio, A. and Clarke, S. D. and Pozzi, S. A. and Febbraro, M.},
abstractNote = {In conjunction with Eljen Technology, Inc. (Sweetwater,TX) we have designed, constructed, and evaluated a 3 in. x 3 in. deuterated-xylene organic liquid scintillator (C8D10; EJ301D) as a fast neutron detector. Similar to deuterated benzene (C6D6; NE230, BC537, and EJ315) this scintillator can provide good pulse-shape discrimination between neutrons and gamma rays, has good timing characteristics, and can provide a light spectrum with peaks corresponding to discrete neutron energy groups up to ca. 20 MeV. Unlike benzene-based detectors, deuterated xylene is less volatile, less toxic, is not known to be carci-nogenic, has a higher flashpoint, and hence is much safer for many applications. In addition EJ301D can provide slightly more light output and better PSD than deuterated-benzene scintillators. We show that, as with deuterated-benzene scintillators, the light-response spectra can be unfolded to provide useable neutron energy spectra without need for time-of-flight (ToF). An array of these detectors arranged at many angles close to a reaction target can be much more effective ( x 10 to x 100 or more) than an array of long-path ToF detectors which must utilize a narrowly-bunched and pulse-selected beam. As we demonstrate using a small Van de Graaff accelerator, measurements can thus be performed when a bunched and pulse-selected beam (as needed for time-of-flight) is not available.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2016.02.058},
journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
number = C,
volume = 820,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

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