Modeling and investigation of heavy oxide and alkali-halide scintillators for potential use in neutron and gamma detection systems

View/ Open
Author
Cadiente, Jeremy S.
Date
2015-06Advisor
Smith, Craig F.
Second Reader
Goorley, Tim
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Heavy inorganic oxide and alkali-halide crystals, which previous experimental research has indicated to have fast neutron detection efficiencies well over 40%, were investigated for potential use as highly efficient gamma-neutron radiation detectors. The Monte Carlo N-Particle radiation transport code (MCNP) was used to characterize the radiation interactions in a candidate set of crystals, including Bismuth Germanate (BGO), Lead Tungstate (PWO), Cadmium Tungstate (CWO), Zinc Tungstate (ZWO), Cerium-doped Lutetium-Gadolinium Orthosilicate (LGSO:Ce), and Cerium doped Lutetium-Aluminum Garnet (LuAG:Ce). Specific detection systems proposed and studied in the laboratory were also modeled and assessed. The candidate crystal set proved to be most susceptible to energy deposition from incident gamma quanta below 0.7 MeV and above 4 MeV, most likely due to photoelectric absorption and pair production, respectively. Inelastic and elastic scattering proved to be about 98% of the total neutron interactions from a Plutonium Beryllium (PuBe) neutron source, about a fourth of which were inelastic scattering. Various components of the detector configuration were evaluated in detail. The crystal dimensions and moderation especially affected detector efficiency, which showed potential for detection efficiencies comparable to experimental data.
Description
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Computer investigation of low energy neutron-neutron scattering
Osgood, Franklin Baker (Monterey, California: U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, 1965);A proposed neutron-neutron scattering experiment in which the neutron source would be colliding beams from an underground nuclear explosion was investigated. In particular, the accuracy to be expected was determined so ... -
Fast neutron environments
Hattar, Khalid; Brewer, Luke N.; Boyce, Brad L.; Buchheit, Thomas E.; Foiles, Stephen M.; Lu, Ping; Clark, Blythe G.; Kotula, Paul G.; Goods, Steven; Pushkar, Joseph; Doyle, Barney L. (Sandia National Laboratories, 2011-10);The goal of this LDRD project is to develop a rapid first-order experimental procedure for the testing of advanced cladding materials that may be considered for generation IV nuclear reactors. In order to investigate ... -
Similitude considerations in neutron and gamma ray scattering.
Ney, Kenneth C. (Iowa State College, 1955);