Method with Digital Signal Processing for Increasing the Efficiency of Thermal Neutron Detection by a Scintillation Detector Based on a ${{^{6}{\text{LiF}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{^{6}{\text{LiF}}} {{\text{ZnS}}({\text{Ag}})}}} \right. \kern-0em} {{\text{ZnS}}({\text{Ag}})}}$ Screen and Wavelength-Shifting Fibers

Abstract

The results of studying neutron signals from scintillation detectors based on a ${{^{6}{\text{LiF}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{^{6}{\text{LiF}}} {{\text{ZnS}}({\text{Ag}})}}} \right. \kern-0em} {{\text{ZnS}}({\text{Ag}})}}$ screen and wavelength-shifting fibers are presented. It is shown that the complex shape of the neutron signals arises from a low signal amplitude and fluctuation of photoelectrons in the process of light collection from the scintillator surface using optical fibers. A charge method for neutron detection using digital signal processing is proposed, which allows an appreciable increase in the detector efficiency at a high counting rate. The calculated efficiency of neutron signal discrimination at a neutron event intensity of ($\approx {{10}^{6}}$ n/s) is ε = 0.42. To compare, the efficiency of the classical discrimination method with nonparalyzable dead time is ε = 0.33.