Calibration of LiBaF3:Ce scintillator for fission spectrum neutrons

The scintillator LiBaF3 doped with small amounts of Ce+3 has the ability to distinguish heavy charged particles (p, d, t, or α) from beta and/or gamma radiation based on the presence or absence of nanosecond components in the scintillation light output. Since the neutron capture reaction on 6Li produces recoil alphas and tritons, this scintillator also discriminates between neutron induced events and beta or gamma interactions. An experimental technique using a time-tagged 252Cf source has been used to measure the efficiency of this scintillator for neutron capture, the calibration of neutron capture pulse height, and the pulse height resolution—all as a function of incident neutron energy.