An investigation into a suitable scintillator for localising neutron capture within a detector

Using Monte-Carlo modelling, an investigation into a suitable loaded scintillator for localising neutron capture in a novel neutron survey meter has been undertaken. A comparison of estimated neutron capture location in a scintillator with Geant4 and MCNP simulations was undertaken and a good general agreement between the two models was observed. The interactions of gamma emissions from neutron capture in the scintillator are investigated. The results show that the gamma emission from neutron capture will not aid neutron capture localisation and will only inhibit it. It is observed that the lithium-loaded scintillator has the lowest neutron capture efficiency when compared with boron and gadolinium scintillators. However, it is the most promising of the detectors investigated in this research for use in a novel neutron survey meter design.