Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Simulation of a neutron imaging detector prototype based on SiPM array readout

  • Mengjiao Tang (Department of Nuclear Technology and Application, China Institute of Atomic Energy) ;
  • Lianjun Zhang (Department of Nuclear Technology and Application, China Institute of Atomic Energy) ;
  • Bin Tang (Spallation Neutron Source Science Center) ;
  • Gaokui He (Department of Nuclear Technology and Application, China Institute of Atomic Energy) ;
  • Chang Huang (Spallation Neutron Source Science Center) ;
  • Jiangbin Zhao (Department of Nuclear Technology and Application, China Institute of Atomic Energy) ;
  • Yang Liu (Department of Nuclear Technology and Application, China Institute of Atomic Energy)
  • Received : 2023.02.09
  • Accepted : 2023.05.03
  • Published : 2023.09.25
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Abstract

Neutron imaging technology as a means of non-destructive detection of materials is complementary to X-ray imaging. Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), a new type of optical readout device, has overcome some shortcomings of traditional photomultiplier tube (PMT), such as high-power consumption, large volume, high price, uneven gain response, and inability to work in strong magnetic fields. Its application in the field of neutron detection will be an irresistible general trend. In this paper, a thermal neutron imaging detector based on 6LiF/ZnS scintillation screen and SiPM array readout was developed. The design of the detector geometry was optimized by geant4 Monte Carlo simulation software. The optimized detector was evaluated with a step wedge sample. The results show that the detector prototype with a 48 mm × 48 mm sensitive area can achieve about 38% detection efficiency and 0.26 mm position resolution when using a 300 ㎛ thick 6LiF/ZnS scintillation screen and a 2 mm thick Bk7 optical guide coupled with SiPM array, and has good neutron imaging capability. It provides effective data support for developing high-performance imaging detectors applied to the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS).

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U2067207), the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant No. 2020B1515120025, 2022B1515120071).

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