Nanoptics, Incorporated

Youngwook Noh

James K Walker

Richard T Farley

Embodiments of the subject invention relate to high efficiency plastic scintillators that emit intense light when exposed to ionizing radiation. Specific embodiments of the subject invention pertain to material compositions for providing high-intensity, scintillation light output in the presence of ions, which can be used for making scintillators more sensitive to the presence of ionizing radiation.

Scintillating material composition to provide high light output

Embodiments include a scintillator material, a scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a scintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material that comprises chromophores. Additional embodiments provide a scintillator material, scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a sctintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material having one, two, three, or more, organic dyes dissolved therein wherein the polymer material having the one, two, three, or more dyes dissolved therein comprises chromophores. At least one of the dyes, termed the base dye, has a concentration in the range 0.5 to 3.5 mol/L. In an embodiment, the base dye has a concentration in the range 1.0 to 3.0 mol/L. This base dye concentration is high enough to achieve a substantial triplet-triplet state annihilation rate despite the negligible diffusion of the dye in the rigid polymer matrix.

Materials, method, and apparatus for detecting neutrons and ionizing radiation

Embodiments are directed to a fast and thermal neutron detector material composition for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection. Specific embodiments of the material composition result in two excimer scintillation light production mechanisms that provide two corresponding independent techniques for gamma discrimination; namely Pulse Shape Discrimination and Pulse Height Discrimination. A dual discrimination method, Pulse Shape and Pulse Height Discrimination (PSHD), can be implemented relying on both pulse height discrimination and pulse shape discrimination, and can allow the operation of large area, fast and thermal neutron detectors.

Method and apparatus for neutron detection utilizing pulse height discrimination and pulse shape discrimination

Embodiments relate to an advanced fast and thermal neutron detector material composition with the properties useful for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection. Specific embodiments of the material composition result in two excimer scintillation light production mechanisms that provide two corresponding independent techniques for gamma discrimination; namely Pulse Shape Discrimination and Pulse Height Discrimination. A dual discrimination method, Pulse Shape and Pulse Height Discrimination (PSHD), can be implemented relying on both pulse height discrimination and pulse shape discrimination, and can allow the operation of large area, fast and thermal neutron detectors.

Method and apparatus for detection of radiation, including: a method and apparatus for detection of fast and/or thermal neutrons; a method and apparatus for detection of neutrons in high backgrounds of gamma rays; a method and apparatus having high sensitivity and/or high gamma discrimination; a method and apparatus including a given single material that can detect fast neutrons and simultaneously detect gamma rays with moderate energy resolution. Liquid, viscous liquid, gel, and/or solid scintillating materials. A scintillating matrix, such as a liquid, having a highly polar matrix, such as a liquid solvent, dissolved dyes, and a high concentration of a dissolved organo metallic compound. The use of a single material for a large area detector of fast neutrons and gamma rays can provide material and cost benefits.

Scintillating organic materials and methods for detecting neutron and gamma radiation

Embodiments incorporate a method and apparatus for detection of radiation. Embodiments detect fast and/or thermal neutrons. Embodiments detect neutrons in high backgrounds of gamma rays. Embodiments can have high sensitivity and/or high gamma discrimination. Embodiments include a given single material that detects fast neutrons and simultaneously detect gamma rays with moderate energy resolution. Embodiments utilize liquid, viscous liquid, gel, and/or solid scintillating materials. Embodiments incorporate a scintillating matrix, such as a liquid, having a highly polar matrix, such as a liquid solvent, dissolved dyes, and a high concentration of a dissolved organo metallic compound. The use of a single material for a large area detector of fast neutrons and gamma rays can provide material and cost benefits.

Method and apparatus for neutron detection utilizing Pulse Height Discrimination and Pulse Shape Discrimination

Embodiments of the invention provide a scintillator material, a scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a scintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material that comprises chromophores. Additional embodiments provide a scintillator material, scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a scintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material having one, two, three, or more, organic dyes dissolved therein wherein the polymer material having the one, two, three, or more dyes dissolved therein comprises chromophores. At least one of the dyes, termed the base dye, has a concentration in the range 0.5 to 3.5 mol/L. In a specific embodiment, the base dye has a concentration in the range 1.0 to 3.0 mol/L. This base dye concentration is high enough to achieve a substantial triplet-triplet state annihilation rate despite the negligible diffusion of the dye in the rigid polymer matrix.

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Youngwook Noh