Development of a compact scintillator-based gamma-ray neutron detector for terrestrial and space applications

Abstract

Abstract We present the development of a gamma ray and neutron detector for possible use in terrestrial and planetary science. The detector is based on a monolithic scintillator coupled to an array of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) read out by compact integrated electronics, and it shall allow one to detect gamma-rays and neutrons with energies from 0.025 eV to 1 MeV with energy resolution of < 4% full-width half-maximum (FWHM) at 662 keV (Cs-137). Among the various scintillators studied, we measured the energy resolution of 4.87% FWHM at 662 keV with a monolithic and cylindrical CLLBC and confirmed acceptable sensitivity to thermal neutrons at 3.1 MeV. The results are promising towards our goal to measure the abundance of hydrogen bearing compounds and rock-forming elements for planetary geology research.