Neutron and gamma imaging using an organic glass scintillator handheld dual particle imager

Abstract

The ability to detect, localize, and characterize special nuclear material (highly enriched uranium and plutonium) is important for nuclear security, safeguards, nonproliferation, and weapons dismantlement verification. In these fields, particle imagers and systems that are sensitive to both gamma rays and neutrons can prove vital because the special nuclear material of interest will often emit both types of particles. The presence and detection of neutrons serves as an important marker because they are not as easily attenuated; gamma rays can offer strong identification information through spectrometry. We have developed a new compact scatter-based imager prototype that utilizes organic glass scintillators of novel composition and CeBr3 scintillators to image both gamma rays and fast neutrons. We present new results demonstrating that the instrument is capable of imaging single and multiple gamma/neutron sources in the same field of view. We also show that the organic glass scintillator-based imager can perform coarse neutron and gamma-ray spectrometry, further enabling source characterization. This instrument has potential to aid in security, safeguards, and verification scenarios.