High-counting-rate and high-position-resolution neutron imaging detectors using short-lifetime phosphors with crossed-fiber readout

In order to obtain high-counting-rate and high-position-resolution neutron imaging, two-dimensional neutron position sensitive detectors using short-lifetime phosphors with crossed-fiber readout were developed. In these detectors, (Li2B4O7)-Li-7-B-10 ((LBO)-L-7-B-10) was used as the neutron converter, the phosphor Y2SiO5 (lifetime similar to40ns) and other organic phosphors with lifetimes of less than 10 ns were also used. Crossed-wavelength-shifting fibers were arranged on and under the phosphor/neutron converter sheet. Light generated in the phosphor sheet was detected by the few fibers surrounding the neutron interaction point. The X and Y position of the neutron interaction were determined by a double coincidence photon counting method. By carrying out a series of fundamental experiments for the imaging detector, it was determined that a position resolution of less than 0.5 mm could be obtained with a 0.25 mm thick Y2SiO5/(LBO)-L-7-B-10 sheet and wavelength shifting fibers 0.5 mm x 0.5 turn in cross-sectional area. Experiments carried out at a cold neutron radiography facility, with maximum neutron flux of 1 x 10(8) n/s/cm(2), confirmed that the detector could work at a counting rate of more than 3 Mcps/line. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.