A liquid VI scintillator cell for fast-gated neutron imaging

Area of Science:

• Nuclear physics
• Materials science
• Optical engineering

Background:

• Development of advanced diagnostic tools for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) requires components with enhanced timing capabilities.
• Existing fast plastic scintillators used in neutron imaging face limitations with stricter timing constraints of new systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel scintillator imaging cell for fast-gated neutron imaging.
• To evaluate the performance of a new Liquid VI-based imaging cell against existing technologies.

Main Methods:

• A novel imaging cell utilizing Liquid VI was developed in collaboration with Eljen Technology.
• Performance characterization was conducted at the Special Technologies Laboratory and Los Alamos Neutron Science Center.
• Key parameters evaluated included timing characteristics, spatial resolution, and light production.

Main Results:

• The Liquid VI imaging cell demonstrated superior timing characteristics compared to traditional fast plastic scintillators.
• Enhanced spatial resolution was observed, crucial for detailed imaging applications.
• Sufficient light production was confirmed for integration into the new NIF imaging system.

Conclusions:

• The novel Liquid VI imaging cell is a promising advancement for fast-gated neutron imaging.
• Its superior performance makes it suitable for inertial confinement fusion diagnostics and other demanding imaging applications.
• This technology addresses the need for improved timing and resolution in high-speed imaging.