Optimization of lithium-glass fibers with lithium depleted coating for neutron detection

Abstract Neutron-detecting scintillating glass uses 6 Li to capture thermal neutrons to produce an α  and triton particles, which have ranges of 6 μ m and 36 μ m , respectively. Captures on or near the surface of the glass can cause one of the particles to deposit less than its full energy in the glass; resulting in a failure to detect the neutron. This effect can be mitigated in lithium glass scintillators by coating lithium-glass fibers with lithium depleted scintillating glass. Thus, the scintillator’s efficiency will be increased. Results from this work on glass scintillating fibers show that an increase up to 60% in neutron intrinsic efficiency depending on core size can be achieved with scintillating glass coatings.