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Comparative Analysis of PVT Scintillators for the Development of a Fast Neutron Imager

Shawger, Richard Elwood

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Nuclear Engineering.
The objective of this research is to conduct a comparative analysis of polyvinyltoluene (PVT) organic scintillators in order to aid Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the design of a PVT scintillator for fast neutron imaging. To achieve this goal, a neutron imaging apparatus has been developed to conduct neutron radiography using a neutron beam facility at The Ohio State University Research Reactor (OSURR). The neutron imaging apparatus is based on a low-cost single mirror refection configuration that consists of a neutron sensitive scintillator, a light tight box, a mirror, and a cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The light tight box was designed, machined, and built in-house specifically to fit into the space available at the neutron beam facility. The camera position is adjustable within the box in order to provide an adjustable field of view, which allows the object or region of interest to take full advantage of the CCD chip size. The spatial resolution of the scintillator was characterized by using Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) and an optical test target. The light yield was measured by the summation of pixel values in the same region of interest in each scintillator. Maximum resolution for a lithium loaded PVT (1.3% by weight) scintillator with thickness of 2.2 mm was 10.9 lp/mm for thermal neutrons. The resolution decreased by 11% with an increase of 1.1 mm in thickness. For fast neutrons with an average energy of 2 MeV, Li-loading increased the light yield of PVT by 29%. For 2.45 MeV neutrons produced by a D-D neutron generator, PVT with a Europium fluor produced 2.7 ± 0.2 times more light than a standard PVT scintillator. The combination of lithium loading with a Eu fluor in PVT produces an efficient dual-purpose fast and thermal neutron imager, as anticipated.
Lei Cao (Advisor)
Thomas Blue (Committee Member)
107 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shawger, R. E. (2016). Comparative Analysis of PVT Scintillators for the Development of a Fast Neutron Imager [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460195672

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shawger, Richard. Comparative Analysis of PVT Scintillators for the Development of a Fast Neutron Imager . 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460195672.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shawger, Richard. "Comparative Analysis of PVT Scintillators for the Development of a Fast Neutron Imager ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460195672

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)