The scientific output of a neutron instrument is directly proportional to the effectiveness of its detector system - coverage of scattering area, pixel resolution, counting efficiency, singal-to-noise ratio, life time and cost. The current neutron scintillator detectors employ mainly ~6Li-doped glass and ZnS, both of which present well-know limitations such as low light output, high gamma sensitivity in the case of ~6Li-glass and optical opacity in the case of ZnS. We aim to develop a position-sensitive, flight-time differentiable, efficient and cost-effective neutron detertor system based on single-crystal scintillator fiber-arrays. The laser-heated melt modulation fiber growth technology developed at NASA provides the means to grow high-purity single-crystal fibers or rods of variable diameters (200 mu m to 5 mm) and essentially unlimited length. Arrays of such fibers can be tailored to meet the requirements of pixel size, geometric configuration, and coverage area for a detector system. We report a plan in the growth and characterization of scintillators based on lithium silicates and boron aluminates using Ce as activator.
展开▼
