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Multimode Organic Scintillators for Neutron/Gamma Detection

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Contract: HDTRA221C0004
Agency Tracking Number: T2-0426
Amount: $1,099,267.40
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: DTRA19B-003
Solicitation Number: 19.B
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2019
Award Year: 2021
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2021-03-24
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2023-03-23
Small Business Information
44 Hunt Street
Watertown, MA 02472-1111
United States
DUNS: 073804411
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Edgar van Loef
 (617) 668-6984
 evanloef@rmdinc.com
Business Contact
 Martin Waters
Phone: (617) 668-6851
Email: mwaters@rmdinc.com
Research Institution
 Sandia National Laboratories
 Sandra Pino
 
P.O.BOX 5800 - MS0115
Albuquerue, NM 87185-1079
United States

 (505) 284-5896
 Federally Funded R&D Center (FFRDC)
Abstract

There is significant interest in multi-functional materials enabling gamma-ray spectroscopy, neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD), ultra-fast response, and time-of-flight (TOF) neutron detection. These materials would be used in a variety of mission scenarios for the localization and monitoring of special nuclear materials. Commercial inorganic scintillators may offer some of these characteristics but are often expensive and not available in large sizes. Likewise, organic scintillators such as trans-stilbene single crystals provide efficient fast-neutron detection and good PSD but lack gamma-ray spectroscopy and a route towards large detector sizes. In this project we propose to develop multimode organic scintillators based upon the organic glass technology invented at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Our goal is to produce multimode organic scintillators that retain the excellent neutron detection and PSD characteristics of solution-grown trans-stilbene crystals, while adding increased gamma sensitivity and energy resolving capability that is missing from stilbene. A related objective is to also provide faster decay characteristics for high count-rate environments and/or scenarios that require accurate timing resolution for event reconstruction. The use of these materials will allow us to develop integrated detection system capable of 1) high count-rates, 2) gamma-ray and fast neutron detection with high sensitivity and PSD, 3) TOF techniques for neutron imaging and neutron energy information, and 4) good energy resolution. Imparting all these capabilities into a single detector material will enable simplified radiation detection systems that are capable of meeting a broader range of operational requirements.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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