New Solid-State Organic Scintillators for Wide-Energy Neutron Detection

Detection of special nuclear materials (SNM) requires instruments which can detect and characterize uranium and plutonium isotopes, having at the same time the ability to discriminate among different types of radiation. For many decades, neutron detection has been based on ³He proportional counters sensitive primarily to thermal neutrons. The most common methods for detection of fast neutrons have been based on liquid scintillators with pulse shape discrimination (PSD). The shortage of ³He and handling issues with liquid scintillators stimulated a search for efficient solid-state PSD materials. Recent studies conducted at LLNL led to development of new materials, among which are organic crystals with excellent PSD and first PSD plastics for fast neutron detection. More advantages have been introduced by plastics doped with neutron capture agents, such as ¹⁰B and ⁶Li, that can be used for combined detection of both thermal and fast neutrons, offering, in addition, a unique 'triple' PSD for signal separation between fast neutrons, thermal neutrons, and gamma-rays. Among commercially produced materials are large-scale (>10 cm) stilbene crystals grown by the inexpensive solution technique, and different types of PSD plastics which, due to the deployment advantages and ease of fabrication, create a basis for the widespread use as large-volume and low-cost neutron detectors. (author)