A portable fast-neutron imager with 6Li-containing scintillators

Abstract

Li-containing scintillators arranged in cage-shaped are proposed as a fast-neutron imager for nuclear security. Counting rate difference among the scintillators enables us to reconstruct the direction of neutron source by the aid of an iterative-Bayesian unfolding method. Simulation studies show that the proposed imager has angular resolution of 10 degrees and even identifies multiple source directions. The simulation can reproduce experimental results with a prototype detector. This indicates that the idea of the fast neutron imager is feasible.