SBIR Phase I: Development of Robust, High Performance 6-Li Silicate Optical Fiber Neutron Detectors

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发高性能闪烁光纤中子探测器所需的技术。目前的闪烁体技术有潜力生产出极其敏感、坚固耐用、设计几何形状灵活、动态范围大（背景为10 Mcps）、不含有毒或受管制材料的中子探测器。然而，基于现有材料和制造工艺的光纤的传输距离目前为1米，这限制了可以建造的探测器的尺寸和灵敏度。闪烁光纤传输距离的改进将对使用该技术可以实现的性能产生变革性影响。该项目将与克莱姆森大学光学材料科学与工程技术中心（COMSET）的科学家合作完成，将探索使用玻璃性能的替代纤维材料组成和制造工艺，这有望提供所需的传输距离提升，并导致性能远远超过现有系统的中子探测系统。这个项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力包括满足市场需要，这对脆弱的核武器和材料的安全以及防止这些材料的非法贩运至关重要。将提高高风险过境点、机场和海港以及核武器和部件储存地点和研究反应堆的探测系统的有效性。由于用于医疗或工业目的的大多数放射性核素不发射中子，因此对中子的探测通常是存在特殊核材料的明确指标。由于目前存在的绝大多数中子探测系统依赖于3He比例计数器，而目前全球缺乏3He，因此迫切需要一种合适的替代中子探测技术。我们拥有6Li玻璃纤维中子探测器技术的独家许可，该技术最初由太平洋西北国家实验室获得专利，并且在各种辐射检测系统中实施这些设备已有十年的经验，从便携式系统到大型车载和固定门户系统。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop the technology needed for high performance scintillating optical fiber-based neutron detectors. Current scintillator technology has the potential to produce neutron detectors that are extremely sensitive, rugged, flexible in design geometry, have a large dynamic range (background to 10 Mcps), and do not contain toxic or regulated materials. However, the transmission distance of fibers based on existing materials and fabrication processes is currently 1 m, which limits the size and sensitivity of detectors that can be built. Improvements in the transmission distance of the scintillating fibers will have a transformational impact on the performance that can be achieved using this technology. The project, to be done in collaboration with scientists at the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET) at Clemson University, will explore alternate fiber material compositions and fabrication processes that use glass performs, which are expected to afford the needed boost in transmission distance and lead to neutron detection systems with performance that will far exceed that of existing systems.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes filling a market need that is vitally important for the security of vulnerable nuclear weapons and materials, and for the prevention of illicit trafficking of these materials. The effectiveness of detection systems at high-risk border crossings, airports and seaports, as well as at nuclear weapons and components storage locations and research reactors, will be improved. Since neutrons are not emitted by most radionuclides used for medical or industrial purposes, the detection of neutrons is usually an unambiguous indicator of the presence of special nuclear materials (SNMs). Because the vast majority of neutron detection systems in existence today rely on 3He proportional counters and there is currently a global shortage of 3He, a suitable alternative neutron detection technology is urgently needed. We hold an exclusive license to the 6Li glass fiber neutron detector technology originally patented by Pacific Northwest National Lab and have ten years of experience implementing these devices in a wide range of radiation detection systems, from man portable systems to large vehicle mounted and stationary portal systems.