Development of FOND: A scintillating fiber-optic neutron detector

Science Applications International Corporation in San Diego has been developing and testing a plastic scintillating fiber-optic neutron detector (FOND) for various applications where detection of fast neutrons is required. The detector-converter component of the device is a fiber bundle constructed of plastic scintillating fibers each measuring 5 to 10 cm long and 100-500 μm in diameter. Bundles ranged in size from 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm in cross section up to 10 cm by 10 cm. The bundle is coupled to a set of electro-optic intensifiers whose output is recorded by a CCD camera (standard and high speed) directly coupled to the intensifiers. The FOND has been advanced for several applications, including the identification and location of sources emitting fast neutrons (such as special nuclear material) and for measuring the solar neutron energy spectrum (in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire)