Neutron-gamma discrimination in plastic scintillators

Abstract

Direct detection of fast neutrons prior to moderation offers increased performance at lower cost for future neutron detection technologies. Neutron detection by proton recoil in plastic scintillators could provide this capability if efficient techniques for discrimination against gamma events were available. We describe two possible approaches to neutron/gamma discrimination; one based on digital pulse processing to differentiate pulse types and the other based on low density scintillators to lengthen the time interval between multiple interactions.