Cold neutron radiation dose effects on a ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) neutron detector with wavelength shifting fibers and SiPM photodetector

A ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) based cold neutron detector with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and SiPM photodetector was developed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research for the CANDoR instrument (Chromatic Analysis Neutron Diffractometer or Reflectometer). A series of detectors were irradiated with neutron doses ranging between 1E+11 n/cm² to 6E+12 n/cm². It was found that the neutron absorbing ⁶Li isotope was not measurably depleted, but the photonic yield of the detector deteriorated with increasing neutron dose. Photonic yields were compared before and after neutron exposure by comparing pulse energy spectrum photopeaks before and after exposure. A typical detector used in the CANDoR instrument is expected to withstand a cumulative cold neutron dose of at least 1E+12 n/cm² before degrading to an unfit state. The component parts of the detector could not be separated, so the degradation of the bulk scintillator and WLS fibers could not be gauged separately.