Neutron Detection using Lithium Glass Scintillator

ORAL

Abstract

We have developed a neutron detector using a thin sheet of lithium-6 glass scintillator. Lithium-6 has a high capture cross-section for neutrons, giving high neutron detection efficiency. One of the difficulties of neutron detection is discriminating between neutron and gamma radiation. We have measured the gamma sensitivity of our detector to be one in 10,000. For nuclear non-proliferation applications, radioactive sources may be shielded. Unlike most neutron detectors, lithium glass detectors are more efficient at detecting neutrons if the source is shielded. We are testing different configurations to optimize the detector's neutron capture efficiency.

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Authors

  • Adam Wallace

    BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University

  • Young-Yeal Song

    Brigham Young University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Yale University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, University of Arizona, MIT, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, University of New Mexico, Iowa State University, Los Alamos National Lab XCP-2, Utah State University, Weber State University, New Mexico State University, College of Optical Science, University of Arizona, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, J.A. Woollam Co., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Arizona State University, BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Tsukuba, Japan, Colorado State University, NSF ERC for EUV science and technology, Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Utah Valley University, Argonne National Lab

  • Young-Yeal Song

    Brigham Young University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Yale University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, University of Arizona, MIT, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, University of New Mexico, Iowa State University, Los Alamos National Lab XCP-2, Utah State University, Weber State University, New Mexico State University, College of Optical Science, University of Arizona, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, J.A. Woollam Co., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Arizona State University, BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Tsukuba, Japan, Colorado State University, NSF ERC for EUV science and technology, Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Utah Valley University, Argonne National Lab