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New Scintillator for Neutron Detection

Award Information
Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Branch: N/A
Contract: HSHQDC-10-C-00163
Agency Tracking Number: 1011012
Amount: $149,999.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 10.1-2
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-08-26
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2011-03-01
Small Business Information
44 HUNT ST
WATERTOWN, MA 02472
United States
DUNS: 073804411
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jaroslaw Glodo
 (617) 668-6800
 JGlodo@RMDInc.com
Business Contact
 Nancy Marshall
Phone: (617) 668-6810
Email: NMarshall@RMDInc.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Neutron detection is one of the methods used in revealing illicit nuclear materials. Currently, there is an ongoing search for new and better neutron detectors prompted by anticipated shortages of He-3 that is used in many of the current detection systems. This effort
proposes and investigation and development of a new thermal neutron and gamma scintillator. The scintillator belongs to already proven elpasolite crystal family. The main advantages of this material are due to avoidance of Cl (parasitic neutron absorption) and La
(introduces radioactive isotopes) ions in the composition. This leads to a scintillator that is more efficient for thermal neutron detection and has lower intrinsic background. The material already showed that it is capable of discrimination between neutrons and gammas, a feature required in detectors to replace He-3 tubes. In addition, like other elpasolite crystals, the material should also provide excellent gamma energy resolution. We expect it to be better than 4 percent at 662 keV, which is almost twice as good as 7 percent for NaI:Tl (the most popular gamma scintillator). Phase I of the project will investigate in detail the properties of this material and provide optimal configuration for obtaining pulse shape discrimination and energy resolution.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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