Development of a gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillator for solar neutrino detection and neutron measurements

A high flashpoint, low-toxicity liquid scintillator based on α-hydroxytoluene and containing 10 wt% Gd has been developed for solar neutrino detection and neutron measurements. Dissolution of the gadolinium compound into the scintillator was facilitated by the use of the extractant triethylphosphate. Preliminary investigation has shown the attenuation length of the loaded scintillator to be 1.42 m at 420 nm and the light collection to be 30% of that produced by an unloaded sample.