Pulse-shape discrimination of the new plastic scintillators in neutron–gamma mixed field using fast digitizer card. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jančář, A.; Kopecký, Z.; Dressler, J.; Veškrna, M.; Matěj, Z.; Granja, C.; Solar, M.
• Is Part Of: Radiation physics and chemistry. Volume 116(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Scintillation detectors -- Mono-energetic neutron sources -- Pulse-shape discrimination -- Figure of merit -- Digital-signal processing; Radiation chemistry -- Periodicals; Radiometry -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Periodicals; Chimie sous rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2015.05.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-806X

Abstract

Abstract: Recently invented plastic scintillator EJ-299-33 enables pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) and thus measurement of neutron and photon spectra in mixed fields. In this work we compare the PSD properties of EJ-299-33 plastic and the well-known NE-213 liquid scintillator in monoenergetic neutron fields generated by the Van de Graaff accelerator using the 3 H(d, n) 4 He reaction. Pulses from the scintillators are processed by a newly developed digital measuring system employing the fast digitizer card. This card contains two AD converters connected to the measuring computer via 10 Gbps optical ethernet. The converters operate with a resolution of 12 bits and have two differential inputs with a sampling frequency 1 GHz. The resulting digital channels with different gains are merged into one composite channel with a higher digital resolution in a wide dynamic range of energies. Neutron signals are fully discriminated from gamma signals. Results are presented. Abstract : Highlights: A newly developed digital spectrometric system employing a fast digitizer card has been verified. The PSD properties of EJ-299-33, BC-501A and BC-501 scintillators are compared by measurements in the Van de Graaff laboratory. All scintillators achieve improved discrimination capability by utilizing the composite digital channel.