| Abstract: | A new family of neutron/gamma discriminating scintillators is disclosed
that comprises stable organic glasses that may be melt-cast into
transparent monoliths. These materials have been shown to provide light
yields greater than solution-grown trans-stilbene crystals and efficient
PSD capabilities when combined with 0.01 to 0.05% by weight of the total
composition of a wavelength-shifting fluorophore. Photoluminescence
measurements reveal fluorescence quantum yields that are 2 to 5 times
greater than conventional plastic or liquid scintillator matrices, which
accounts for the superior light yield of these glasses. The unique
combination of high scintillation light-yields, efficient neutron/gamma
PSD, and straightforward scale-up via melt-casting distinguishes the
developed organic glasses from existing scintillators. |