Pulse-Shape Analysis Of Neutron-Induced Scintillation Light In Ni-Doped (Lif)-Li-6/Zns

Alternatives to He-3 are being investigated for gamma-ray insensitive neutron detection applications, including plutonium assay. One promising material is lithium-6 fluoride with silver activated zinc sulfide (LiF)-Li-6/ZnS(Ag) in conjunction with a wavelength shifting plastic. Doping the (LiF)-Li-6/ZnS(Ag) with nickel (Ni) has been proposed as a means of reducing the decay time of neutron signal pulses. This research performed a pulse shape comparison between Ni-doped and non-doped (LiF)-Li-6/ZnS(Ag) neutron pulses. The Ni-doped (LiF)-Li-6/ZnS(Ag) had a 32.7% +/- 0.3 increase in neutron pulse height and a 32.4% +/- 0.3 decrease in neutron pulse time compared to the non-doped (LiF)-Li-6/ZnS(Ag). Doping (LiF)-Li-6/ZnS(Ag) with nickel may allow neutron detector operation with improved signal to noise ratios, and reduced pulse pileup affects, increasing the accuracy and range of source activities with which such a detector could operate.