Neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) in plastic scintillators with digital PSD electronics

Anthony L. Hutcheson; Duane L. Simonson; Marc Christophersen; Bernard F. Phlips; Nicholas A. Charipar; Alberto Piqué

doi:10.1117/12.2018248

29 May 2013 Neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) in plastic scintillators with digital PSD electronics

Anthony L. Hutcheson, Duane L. Simonson, Marc Christophersen, Bernard F. Phlips, Nicholas A. Charipar, Alberto Piqué

Proceedings Volume 8710, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XIV; 87101K (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018248
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2013, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) is a common method to distinguish between pulses produced by gamma rays and neutrons in scintillator detectors. This technique takes advantage of the property of many scintillators that excitations by recoil protons and electrons produce pulses with different characteristic shapes. Unfortunately, many scintillating materials with good PSD properties have other, undesirable properties such as flammability, toxicity, low availability, high cost, and/or limited size. In contrast, plastic scintillator detectors are relatively low-cost, and easily handled and mass-produced. Recent studies have demonstrated efficient PSD in plastic scintillators using a high concentration of fluorescent dyes. To further investigate the PSD properties of such systems, mixed plastic scintillator samples were produced and tested. The addition of up to 30 wt. % diphenyloxazole (DPO) and other chromophores in polyvinyltoluene (PVT) results in efficient detection with commercial detectors. These plastic scintillators are produced in large diameters up to 4 inches by melt blending directly in a container suitable for in-line detector use. This allows recycling and reuse of materials while varying the compositions. This strategy also avoids additional sample handling and polishing steps required when using removable molds. In this presentation, results will be presented for different mixed-plastic compositions and compared with known scintillating materials

Citation Download Citation

Anthony L. Hutcheson, Duane L. Simonson, Marc Christophersen, Bernard F. Phlips, Nicholas A. Charipar, and Alberto Piqué "Neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) in plastic scintillators with digital PSD electronics", Proc. SPIE 8710, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XIV, 87101K (29 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018248

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