Fast Neutron Detection Efficiency of 6Li and 7Li Enriched CLYC Scintillators using an Am-Be source

Abstract

The fast neutrons produced by a calibrated 241Am-Be source were detected by two different Cs2LiYCl6:Ce (CLYC) scintillator detectors. The two cylindrical crystals (1"x1" in size) were enriched with more than 99% of 7Li (C7LYC) and with about 95% of 6Li (C6LYC), respectively. Both crystals can detect fast neutrons whereas only C6LYC can also detect thermal neutrons, due to the presence of 6Li. The measurement was performed at the L.A.S.A. Laboratory of INFN and University of Milano (Italy). To identify the neutron events, the Pulse-Shape-Discrimination technique was used. A value for the detection efficiency of the 241Am-Be emitted neutrons, with energy up to 10 MeV, was deduced.