SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Neutron multiplicity can provide effective detection and identification of shielded Special Nuclear Materials based on analysis of the time correlated neutron multiplicity distribution. RMD is developing two key materials for such applications: Cs2LiYCl6:Ce (CLYC) scintillator and dual-mode plastics. CLYC offers efficient thermal neutron detection and excellent separation between gamma and neutron particles. Dual mode plastic scintillator, used as a neutron detector and moderator for CLYC, offers high fast neutron detection efficiency and good gamma-neutron discrimination. Together, the CLYC scintillator and the dual-mode plastic scintillator / moderator are building blocks, which can be combined in variety of numbers and geometries to obtain versatile neutron detection systems. The goal of the effort will be to build an array, which reproduces the thermal neutron multiplicity performance of MC-15. The system also will provide fast neutron multiplicity. The proposed modular approach will meet and surpass the requirement for efficiency, while maintaining low power, weight and cost.
