Fast response neutron scintillation detector for FIRE-X

Abstract

We have been developing fast responding neutron detectors with a view to revealing the effect of additional laser heating in FIREX-I (Fast Ignition Realization Experiment) by measuring the burn time with a time resolution under 100 ps at the relatively low neutron yield (about 106). The detector is constructed with a thin plastic-scintillaotor (BC-422), a micro-channel-plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT) and a bundle optical fiber as a light-guide. The rise time of a neutron signal from the detector is measured to be 220 ps. The time-determination error for measuring burn time is estimated to be less than ± 46 ps from the data of characterization experiments measuring the transit time distribution of signals, and calculated values of Doppler broadening and the uncertainty of the scintillation time due to the thickness of the scintillator. In the future with more neutron yield, we will construct a scintillation-fiber-streak camera to detect burn history.