CS2LiYCl6: Ce Neutron gamma detection system

A growing interest in detection of neutron radiation in scientific and security applications stimulates work on new neutron scintillators and detection systems. This includes one of the most interesting materials that has been recently discovered for thermal neutron detection - Cs₂LiYCl₆:Ce (CLYC). This material exhibits excellent scintillation properties for thermal neutron detection including gamma-neutron discrimination. It can also be successfully used for a gamma ray spectroscopy due to its excellent energy resolution (5.1% fwhm at 662 kV). In this paper we present a system designed and built to work with CLYC for neutron and gamma ray detection. The system accepts signals directly from a photomultiplier and in turn provides signals that can be fed to any MCA. Using pulse height and pulse shape discrimination it distinguishes these two types of radiation on the fly. The system works in the gamma energy range of 0 to approximately 4 MeV with discrimination. A variable range is also possible by changing the gain on a photomultiplier (no discrimination, for gamma ray spectroscopy).