SBIR Phase I: Development Of A Novel Composite Material Based On Monodisperse Glass Microspheres For Thermal Neutron Scintillation Detectors

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发高性能中子探测器所需的技术，该探测器使用Ce3+活化的6Li玻璃，以单分散微球的形式，策略性地控制尺寸和结构。目前的Ce3+/6Li玻璃闪烁体技术有可能生产出非常敏感、坚固、灵活的设计几何形状、具有大动态范围（背景到10 Mcps）、不含有毒或受管制材料的中子探测器，但玻璃也会在伽马辐射下闪烁，这是一个问题，因为它可能导致不可接受的高假中子警报。与块玻璃或光纤相比，拟开发的材料将具有显着降低的伽马灵敏度，并且与现有的中子探测系统相比，将对可以实现的性能产生变革性影响。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。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop the technology needed for high performance neutron detectors that use Ce3+ activated 6Li glass in the form of monodisperse microspheres with strategically controlled dimensions and architecture. Current Ce3+/6Li glass 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, but the glass also scintillates in response to gamma radiation, which is problematic since it can cause unacceptably high false neutron alarms. The proposed material to be developed will have significantly lower gamma sensitivity as compared to the bulk glass or optical fibers and will lead to a transformational impact on the performance that can be achieved as compared to existing neutron detection 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.