Neutron-Gamma Discrimination in Emerging Scintillators via Digital Signal Processing

In this research, we report the results of neutron/$\gamma$- ray discrimination performed with two newly developed scintillator crystals provided by Radiation Monitoring Devices Inc. capable of both neutron and $\gamma$-ray detection, $Cs_{2} LiLaBr_{6}$ (CLLB) and $Cs_{2}LiYCl_{6}$ (CLYC). Neutron-gamma discrimination was performed by digitizing the pulse waveforms, from a PuBe source enclosed in paraffin, with a 1 GHz Lecroy Digital Oscilloscope. By exploiting the pulse shape differences between neutron and $\gamma$-ray waveforms in these new crystals, the neutron and $\gamma$-ray signals can be distinguished from one another. The Pulse Shape Discrimination method executed through custom software to discriminate between neutron and $\gamma$-ray waveforms will be discussed. The most recent results obtained using the CLYC and CLLB scintillator crystals coupled to a photomultiplier tube, which includes the optimization of the integration windows, will be presented and discussed.