Novel high-efficiency 2D position-sensitive ZnS:Ag/⁶LiF scintillator detector for neutron diffraction

Area of Science:

• Neutron scattering instrumentation
• Detector physics
• Materials science

Background:

• Scintillator-based neutron detectors using Zinc Sulfide:Silver (ZnS:Ag) and Lithium-6 Fluoride (⁶LiF) have been developed for decades at ISIS.
• Ongoing research aims to enhance detector performance for demanding neutron instrument requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-efficiency, 2D position-sensitive scintillator detector for neutron diffraction.
• To improve neutron detection efficiency through a novel double-layer fiber optic design.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a double-layer scintillator-fiber detector with orthogonal planes and reflective foils to minimize light cross-talk.
• Development and testing of single-layer and prototype detectors for comparative analysis.
• Efficiency measurements and performance evaluation on the SXD diffractometer at ISIS.

Main Results:

• The novel double-layer detector achieved more than a factor of 3 improvement in detection efficiency compared to current detectors.
• Software optimizations for spatial resolution and response uniformity were implemented and tested.
• The detector demonstrated enhanced performance when analyzing reference crystal samples.

Conclusions:

• The double-layer wavelength-shifting-fiber detector represents a significant advancement in neutron detection technology.
• This improved detector efficiency will benefit neutron diffraction applications and scientific discovery.
• Further software development will continue to optimize detector performance for future instruments.