Liquid scintillators and composites in fast neutron detection

Abstract

Helium-3 world crisis requires a development of new methods of neutron detection to replace commonly used 3He proportional counters. One of the option is application of liquid scintillators widely used in detection of fast neutrons, mostly in physics experiments, especially in applications where large volumes are required. Moreover, recently studied 10B loaded liquid scintillators cover detection of neutrons down to thermal energy. The several years' studies of liquid scintillators in our laboratory, brought us a knowledge about their efficiency to neutron detection, gamma sensitivity, etc. We have also tested composite scintillators, which are an alternative to organic single crystals, used in the 70's last century. In the report, we will present the results of the study of several liquid scintillators, also 10B loaded, as well as high flashpoint ones. We also show the neutron detection properties of some samples of composite scintillators. Composites are based on small grains of p-terphenyl or stilbene, introduced into a polymer matrix, which acts as a diffuser. The composite is encapsulated in a housing made of organic glass. P-terphenyl and stilbene are organic scintillators, which were commonly used in the seventies last century. They are characterized by good neutron/gamma discrimination properties. The present studies covers neutron/gamma discrimination by the zero-crossing method, a comparison of detection efficiency of liquid scintillators to 3He detectors and methods to reduce their gamma-ray sensitivity. In conclusion, a detection system, based on several small liquid cells of 2″ × 2″, is preferred, with pulse shape discrimination circuit equipped with the pile-up rejection circuit (PUR), as well as lead and tin shielding. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab srl.