ARI-MA: Investigation of Energy Transfer Based Nanocomposites For Radiation Detection

德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校（University of Texas, Arlington）：这是一个跨学科的项目，汇集了纳米物理学、粒子物理学和核工程方面的专业知识，开发一种新型的辐射探测器，同时通过德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校的综合研究和教育活动，为国土安全建立一个强大的学术项目。掺杂铈的纳米复合材料作为闪烁体已经显示出前景，但通常在紫外线（UV）下发射，并且难以转化为均匀透明的晶体。PI计划利用量子点的能量转移将紫外线发射转化为可见范围，并开发将纳米粒子封装在薄膜中的方法，然后将其组合成晶体以形成实用的探测器。各种参数，如量子点的大小和结晶过程的细节，提供了重大的技术挑战，但展示一种新的闪烁体，结合纳米复合材料的理想特性，如高停止功率，高灵敏度，出色的能量分辨率，量子点的高量子效率和短衰变寿命，潜在的回报是巨大的。用这些新的纳米复合晶体取代传统晶体将产生巨大的更广泛的影响，允许对核材料进行低剂量检测，以帮助防止放射性材料非法运输到美国。

Abstract1039068Wei ChenUniversity of Texas/ArlingtonThis interdisciplinary proposal brings together expertise in nanophysics, particle physics, and nuclear engineering to develop a novel radiation detector, while simultaneously establishing a strong academic program for Homeland Security through integrated research and education activities at the University of Texas, Arlington. Cerium-doped nanocomposites have shown promise as scintillators, but typically emit in the ultraviolet (UV) and are difficult to convert into uniform and transparent crystals. The PI proposes to use energy transfer to quantum dots to convert the UV emission into the visible range, and to develop methods for encapsulating nanoparticles in thin films that can then be combined into crystals to form practical detectors. Various parameters, such as the size of the quantum dots and the details of the crystallization process, provide significant technical challenges, but the payoff of demonstrating a new scintillator combining the desirable properties of nanocomposites, such as high stopping power, high sensitivity, and excellent energy resolution, with the high quantum efficiency and short decay lifetime of quantum dots is potentially enormous. Replacing traditional crystals with these new nanocomposite crystals would have a huge broader impact, allowing low dose detection of nuclear materials to help prevent the illicit transport of radiological materials into the United States.