A novel LiCl-BaCl2:Eu2+ eutectic scintillator for thermal neutron detection

作者：Wu Yuntao^*; Lukosi Eric D; Zhuravleva Mariya; Lindsey Adam C; Melcher Charles L

来源：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment , 2015, 797: 319-323.

DOI：10.1016/j.nima.2015.06.064

• Scintillator
• Eutectic
• Thermal neutron
• Detection

A (LiCl)-Li-nat-BaCl2:Eu2+ eutectic scintillator was synthesized by the vertical Bridgman method aiming at the application of thermal neutron detection. The molar ratio of LiCI and BaCl2 was 75.1/24.9, which corresponds to the eutectic composition in the LiCl-BaCl2 system. The grown eutectic showed a periodic microstructure of BaCl2:Eu2+ and LiCl phases with 2-3 pm thickness. The a-particle induced radiluminescence spectrum of the scintillator showed an intense emission peak at 406 nm due to the Eu2' 5d(1) -> 4f emission from the BaCl2:Eu2+ phase and an additional weak emission peak at 526 urn, The scintillation decay time was 412 ns. LiCI-BaCl2:Eu2+ eutectic samples exhibited non correlated neutron detection efficiency and light yield as a function of crystal length, suggesting material non uniformities within the boule. The relative light yield was equal to or greater than that of Nucsafe lithium glass. Gamma ray exposures indicate that gamma/neutron threshold discrimination for higher energy gamma rays will be limited.

• 出版日期2015-10-11