Development and Testing of Prototypes for the Next Generation Neutron Detector

The Next Generation Neutron Detector (NGn) is a collaborative project to develop and build an advanced detector array for fast neutrons with superior position resolution. The detector will be used at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University in fast-beam experiments to investigate neutron-unbound states of rare isotopes. The detector consists of plastic scintillators in a tiled configuration that will be read out by silicon photo-multipliers (SiPM). A prototype concept has been developed and is being built that allows the investigation of SiPM and plastic scintillator configurations. By using single-SiPM printed circuit boards (PCBs) that connect to a mechanical structure of interlocking building blocks, various array configurations can be set up and investigated with minimal effort. The process of designing, fabricating, and testing the SiPM PCBs introduces participating students to a number of skills that are useful for working with particle detectors, such as electronics design, building PCBs with advanced surface mounted electronics components, setting up detector tests, managing digital readout electronics, simulations of detectors, and analyzing data. The NGn prototype detector concept will be introduced and first results from test measurements will be presented.