A position and pulse shape discriminant p-terphenyl detector module

Abstract

We present the development of a neutron detector array module made with para-terphenyl, a bright, fast, n/γ discriminating crystalline organic scintillator. The module is comprised of 2 cm × 2 cm × 2 cm pterphenyl crystals that have been optically coupled together to create a pseudo-bar module. While only relying on two photo detectors, the module is capable of distinguishing interactions between up to eight crystals. Furthermore, the module retains the p-terphenyl's pulse shape discrimination (PSD) capability. Together this makes the pseudo-bar module a promising position-sensitive neutron detector. Here we present characteristics of the pseudo-bar module -its timing resolution as well as its pulse shape and position discrimination capabilities, and briefly discuss future plans for utilizing an array of pseudo-bar modules in a useful neutron detector system.

Evaluation of the Photophysical Properties of Two Scintillators: Crystalline Para-terphenyl and Plastic-Embedded 2,5-Diphenyloxazole Dye (EJ-276) at Room and Cryogenic Temperatures

“…Another recent advance in PSD-capable organic scintillators is that large organic crystals can now be grown. In the case of para -terphenyl ( p -terphenyl), crystals are large and uniform enough to enable the construction of a large neutron/γ-rays discriminating array composed of hundreds of scintillating cubes. − This advance was also enabled by the use of an application-specific integrated circuit designed to facilitate the use of large channel-count arrays of detectors with PSD capability . In both solid scintillator cases, plastics and crystals, the PSD property is expected to be temperature-dependent as it should affect the triplet diffusion mechanism.…”