Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector

A (LiF)-Li-6:ZnS(Ag)-based cold neutron detector with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) photodetector was developed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. For neutron scattering applications at the NCNR, detector false positives severely diminish the quality of very faint neutron scatter patterns. Thermal noise generated by the SiPM significantly increases the likelihood of false positives by the detector/discriminator. This article describes and evaluates a digital real-time algorithm implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which quickly differentiates SiPM thermal noise and noise pulse pile-up from neutron signals. The algorithm reduces deadtime spent on examining noise pulses as well as reduces the number of false positives.