Fast neutron and alpha detection using LiBaF/sub 3/ scintillator

Pulse shape discrimination techniques using the scintillator LiBaF/sub 3/ allow very clean separation of densely ionizing radiation (protons, tritons, alphas, etc.) from less densely ionizing radiation (electrons). The pulse shape discrimination is based on the presence or absence of subnanosecond c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Reeder, P.L., Bowyer, S.M.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Crystals
Electrons
Impurities
Ionizing radiation
Luminescence
Neutrons
Protons
Pulse shaping methods
Scattering
Shape
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Pulse shape discrimination techniques using the scintillator LiBaF/sub 3/ allow very clean separation of densely ionizing radiation (protons, tritons, alphas, etc.) from less densely ionizing radiation (electrons). The pulse shape discrimination is based on the presence or absence of subnanosecond core-valence luminescence and in crystals doped with Ce/sup +3/ in the presence or absence of Ce luminescence. We use a pulse discrimination technique based on integration of the signal over a short time interval compared to integration over a long time interval. Thermal neutron capture events, fast neutron capture events, fast neutron elastic scattering events on Li, and alpha events from Ra impurities in the scintillator have distinctive loci in a two-dimensional plot of the short gate pulse heights versus long gate pulse heights. The resolution (FWHM) of the /sup 137/Cs gamma photopeak is about 16% and the resolution of the thermal neutron peak from neutron capture on /sup 6/Li is about 17%. Applications of this scintillator include measurements of fast to thermal neutron ratios, fast neutron spectroscopy, alpha contamination etc. in the presence of significant gamma radiation.
ISSN:1082-3654
2577-0829
DOI:10.1109/NSSMIC.2000.949124