The capabilities of position sensitive detectors (PSD) for cold and thermal neutrons must be improved and expanded. Detectors having higher spatial resolutions in 2D, lower cost per area, high throughput, fast timing, low gamma sensitivity, with adaptable geometries are required at neutron scattering and other research facilities. A position sensitive neutron detector is proposed that uses bundles of individual detector elements with diameters of ~120 mm. These neutron-scintillating fibers are coupled with optoelectronic arrays such as multianode photomultiplier tubes, PIN Diodes, microchannel plates, etc. to produce a Fiber Detector. A fiber position sensitive detector will be completed and tested with scattered and thermal neutrons. Deployment of improved 2D PSDs with high signal-to-noise ratios at lower costs per area is the overall objective of the project. Developing and testing a proof-of-principle prototype neutron detector is the objective of Phase I. A prototype detector will be integrated with optical sensors and all pulse processing electronics needed to test the 1D array for resolution, dynamic range, timing, and gamma sensitivity. Beam time will be requested to allow for extensive testing of the detector under a variety of experimental conditions.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Besides providing an improved technology for real-time thermal neutron detection for spallation research, other important applications include lower cost, higher resolution systems for medical applications and nuclear nonproliferation efforts. The proposed detector system can be modified for irregular geometries so presents more alternatives for detector array designs for specific applications.
