NaI(Tl+Li) scintillator as multirange energies neutron detector

TL;DR

This paper investigates a NaI(Tl+Li) scintillator detector capable of detecting neutrons across a wide energy range, distinguishing neutron signals from gamma radiation, and achieving high sensitivity with low background noise.

Contribution

It introduces a novel NaI(Tl+Li) detector with multi-modal neutron detection capabilities and compares experimental results with Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Detects neutron fluxes down to 10^{-3} cm^{-2} s^{-1}

Can distinguish neutron signals in three quasi-independent ways

Provides measured intrinsic alpha-background and detection efficiency

Abstract

Novel NaIL detector (5x6 inch) was investigated for aims of neutron detection in wide energy range. It has been found that the detector together with its known ability to detect the {\gamma}- radiation is also allows to distinguish neutron signals in three quasi-independent ways. It sensitive to neutron fluxes on a level down to $10^{-3}$ $cm^{-2}$ $s^{-1}$. In the work intrinsic {\alpha}- background and neutron detection efficiency for the NaIL detector were obtained. Experimental data was compared with results of Geant4 Monte Carlo (MC).