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A 6LiF:ZnS(Ag)-based cold neutron detector with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) photodetector was developed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. For neutron scattering applications at the NCNR, detector false positives severely diminish the quality of very faint neutron scatter patterns. Thermal noise generated by the SiPM significantly increases the likelihood of false positives by the detector/discriminator. This article describes and evaluates a digital real-time algorithm implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which quickly differentiates SiPM thermal noise and noise pulse pile-up from neutron signals. The algorithm reduces deadtime spent on examining noise pulses as well as reduces the number of false positives.

In this article, a new method to quantify the activity of spatially distributed gamma-emitting isotopes (hotspots) in homogenous content waste drums without the use of a collimator is presented. The method utilizes a spatial digital filter derived using maximum likelihood (ML) to determine multiple sources’ positions and then calculate their activities. To solve the multidimensional maximization problem, we use an alternating projection (AP) technique, which transforms the problem into a considerably simpler 1-D maximization problem. A dynamic grid search was developed to further decrease the computational load. The mathematical simulations demonstrate the improved accuracy when compared to that of industrial segmented gamma scanning (SGS) systems and the same accuracy as that of newer methods. Furthermore, the new method offers the benefit of replacing the heavy mechanical collimator with a “virtual collimator” formed by digital filters and an advanced algorithm to create a “digital virtual scan” of drum volume to locate hotspots.

We used Gaussian separation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to optimize the neutron sensitivity and gamma rejection of an ultra-thin (6)LiF:ZnS(Ag)-scintillator-based neutron detector paired with a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). We recorded the waveforms while operating the detector in a monochromatic cold neutron beam and in the presence of isotopic (137)Cs and (60)Co gamma sources. We used a two-window charge comparison (CC) pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) technique to distinguish the neutron capture events from other types of signals. By feeding the recorded waveforms through variants of this algorithm, it was possible to optimize the duration of the integration windows [(0–100 ns) for the prompt window and (100–2300 ns)] for the delayed window. We then computed the detector’s ROC curve from waveform recordings and compared that with the experimental performance. We also used this procedure to compare a series of detector configurations to select the optimal bias voltage for the SiPM photosensor.

Obtaining directional information is required in many applications such as nuclear homeland security, contamination mapping after a nuclear incident and radiological events, or during the decontamination work. However, many directional radiation detectors are based on directional shielding, made of lead or tungsten collimators, introducing two main drawbacks. The first is the size and weight, making those detectors too heavy and irrelevant for utilization in handheld devices, drone mapping, or space applications. The second drawback is the limited field of view, which requires multiple detectors to cover the whole required field of view or machinery to rotate the narrow field of view detector. We propose a novel 4π directional detector based on a segmented hollow cubic detector, which uses the Compton effect interactions with no heavy collimators. The symmetrical cubical design provides both higher efficiency and 4π detection ability. Instead of traditional two types of detectors (scatterer and absorber) structure, we use the same type of detector, based on GAGG(Ce) scintillator coupled to silicon photomultiplier. Additional advantage of the proposed detector obtained by locating the photon sensors inside the detector, behind the scintillators, which improves the radiation hardness required for space applications. Furthermore, such arrangement flattens the temperature variation across the detector, providing better gain stability. The main advantage of the proposed detector is the ability of 4pi radiation detection for high energy gamma-rays without the use of heavy collimators.

Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) have many advantages when used in radiation detectors. Low bias voltage, compactness and immunity to electromagnetic interference are among their prominent benefits. However, due to their small size, usually an array of SiPM components is required in order to cover the coupling surface area of a scintillator. Since the SiPM is a semiconductor, biased in a reversed voltage, gain variation and strong temperature dependence are introduced. As a result, SiPM-based detectors, particularly an array of SiPMs, undergo spectral signal to noise ratio reduction. This work studies the effect of the SiPM breakdown voltage variation on the obtained energy spectrum and proposes an electronic approach to overcome this technological drawback. This developed technology provides an adequate temperature-dependent, commonly distributed high bias voltage and an individual offset-voltage fine tuning that enables adjustment of all the SiPM components to their optimum operating points. Powerwise it is beneficial to operate SiPM at lower voltages, where undesirable gain variation is more dominant. The proposed solution enables working at lower bias voltages, which provides lower power consumption and better radiation hardness, while yielding an enhanced spectrum resolution. The proposed electronic approach enhances the obtained spectra, reducing the noise threshold by 16 % when working at 1 V overvoltage. Hence provides an enhanced signal to noise ratio over the traditional biasing methods.

We report the optimization of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator mixtures for an ultrathin ( $\approx 30$ %). Our optimization took the form of exploring the weight ratios of neutron converter, phosphor, and binder to promote high neutron capture probability and light transport within the medium. We characterized a series of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag):binder mixtures for neutron absorption, light yield, and light transmission properties. In the process, we determined the optimal configuration for our requirements of millimeter thickness and cold neutron energy. Optimized prototypes exhibit excellent absorption and demonstrate neutron sensitivities of above 85% for 3.27-meV neutrons and gamma ray rejection ratios approaching 10−7.

Low-level radioactive surface-contamination measurements require lightweight, large-area, and high-efficiency detectors. In the previous work, we utilized wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers, coupled to a beta-sensitive plastic scintillator (PS) layer on one side, and to an alpha-sensitive ZnS(Ag) layer on both sides, for detecting both alpha and beta particles. In this work, the main goal was to improve the light collection (maximizing the number of photons reaching the PMT) by optimizing the WLS fibers structure, for getting better signal-to-noise ratio and to minimize the low-energy threshold of the detector. In most cases, improving the light collection mostly influenced the detector resolution. In our case, improving the light collection will improve the detection efficiency by ability to detect more events at low-energy spectrum, which is limited by the noise level. Aiming to improve the scintillation light-collection efficiency, we investigated and compared four different detector configurations. Two of them described in the previous work presents utilization of WLS fibers, with different diameters ( $1~\hbox{mm}\phi $ , $1.5~\hbox{mm}\phi $ ), coupled on the PS. Two other configurations present utilization of WLS fibers ( $1.5~\hbox{mm}\phi $ ) installed into a flat groove on the PS layer, while in one configuration we utilized straight WLS fibers and in the other we utilized bent WLS fibers. It was found that the utilization of WLS fibers in bent configuration gives the highest light-collection efficiency. Additionally, there is improved light collection achieved by using WLS fibers with wider diameter ( $1.5~\hbox{mm}\phi $ ), which maximizes the capture fraction. Additionally, since ZnS(Ag) and PS have different decay times (200 ns and 2.4 ns, respectively), we were able to separate alpha from beta events. An algorithm script was developed to calculate the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of each pulse and a histogram was generated of the FWHM values for the pulse shape discrimination (PSD). Efficient PSD was achieved for alpha energies above 100 keV with figure of merit (FOM) of 1.92. GEANT4 simulation was carried out and compared with experimental results. The results of both were matched, showed that the light-collection efficiency from the bent WLS fibers configuration was the best. The simulation results and the experiments, including full description of the detector structure, ionization stage, and the WLS light collection, are presented.

A new radio-HPLC detection system for measuring radioactivity in plasma samples during Positron Emission Tomography [PET] studies was developed. It is based on detecting both the positron and one of the annihilation photons. The system focused on improving the measurement of radioactivity concentrations on an unmetabolized positron emitting a radiopharmaceutical [PER] in the presence of its radioactive metabolites, all containing the same positron emitter. This paper presents a new detection configuration that improves the minimal detectible activity (MDA), simplify the measuring systems and reduces the error caused by the metabolites. The detector is based on a plastic scintillator and a BGO scintillation crystal, that produces different light output spectra for signal and noise events. By summing the positron and the annihilated photon light outputs, different spectra are obtained for the metabolite and for the parent compound tracer and for tracer marked by different positron emitting isotopes. This new detection system can improve quantitative analysis of plasma samples. The spectrum change provides up to a three-fold improvement in sensitivity compared to the currently used detection systems that measure only the annihilation coincidence events. Results showed that for 11C the MDA was improved by approximately 520%. Furthermore, it provides the additional advantage of reliability by providing a method for separating the signal and noise readings from the gross detector readout. Accurate reconstruction algorithm of the signal was achieved over a wide measuring range even when the signal was only 5% of the gross measurement.

ISS-TAO is a mission selected for a concept study by NASA, and proposed by GSFC for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in order to observe transient high-energy astrophysical sources. It is composed of an X-ray Wide-Field Imager (WFI), and a multi-directional Gamma-ray Transient Monitor (GTM). WFI will be built by NASA/GSFC while the secondary GTM, described in this article is contributed by the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and developed at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Israel space industries. ISS-TAO's main science goal is to detect electromagnetic (EM) counterparts to gravitational waves (GW) detected by GW observatories, such as the Laser Interferometer GW Observatory (LIGO). Observations of simultaneous GW and EM counterparts will address fundamental questions on the nature of coalescing neutron stars and black holes as astrophysical GW sources. An EM detection will also increase LIGO’s sensitivity to detecting these events above the GW background. Promising candidates for LIGO GW sources and EM counterparts are coalescing neutron star binaries, which are now known to also emit a short Gamma-Ray Burst (sGRB). The GTM will measure these GRBs and other transient gamma-ray events, and will trigger the WFI, with or without a GW trigger. The concept of the GTM detector consists of a compact configuration of 4 segments, which will allow a fair angular resolution of a few hundred square degrees, which will facilitate a prompt follow up. Each of the GTM segments consists of a crystal scintillator, a photo-multiplier tube (PMT), followed by analog and digital electronics designed to reconstruct the energy of each incoming photon, and to yield the light-curve and spectrum of any gamma-ray transient. A central CPU then calculates the ratio of the signal of each one of the segments, and deduced the transient position relative to the GTM.