Scintillation detectors constructed with an optimized 2x2 silicon photomultiplier array

TL;DR

This paper presents the design, construction, and testing of scintillation detectors using an optimized 2x2 silicon photomultiplier array, demonstrating stable operation and effective neutron detection across a wide temperature range.

Contribution

It introduces a custom 2x2 SiPM array for scintillation detectors, optimized via Geant4 simulations, and evaluates their performance in temperature stability and neutron detection.

Findings

Stable operation over --20 to 50°C temperature range

Effective neutron detection with pulse-shape discrimination

Good energy resolution for tested scintillators

Abstract

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are a good alternative to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) because their gain and quantum efficiency are comparable to PMTs. However, the largest single-chip SiPM is still less than 1~cm$^2$. In order to use SiPMs with scintillators that have reasonable sensitivity, it is necessary to use multiple SiPMs. In this work, scintillation detectors are constructed and tested with a custom 2x2 SiPM array. The layout of the SiPMs and the geometry of the scintillator were determined by performing Geant4 simulations. Cubic NaI, CsI, and CLYC with 18~mm sides have been tested. The output of the scintillation detectors are stabilized over the temperature range between --20 and 50~$^{\circ}$C by matching the gain of the SiPMs in the array. The energy resolution for these detectors has been measured as a function of temperature. Furthermore, neutron detection for the CLYC detector was studied in the same temperature range. Using pulse-shape discrimination, neutrons can be cleanly identified without contribution from $\gamma$-photons. As a result, these detectors are suitable for deploying in spectroscopic personal radiation detectors (SPRD).