Applications of (CLYC)-L-7 scintillators in fast neutron spectroscopy

The capabilities of Li-enriched Cs LiYCl (CLYC) scintillation detectors for fast neutron spectroscopy are explored in benchmark experiments that exploit its excellent pulse-shape discrimination between neutrons and rays, and its unprecedented 10% energy resolution for fast neutrons in the few MeV range, obtained through the 35Cl(n,p) reaction. Energy- and angle-resolved elastic and inelastic neutron scattering cross-section measurements of 56Fe(n,n') were performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory with a pulsed white neutron source and an array of CLYC crystals. The results convincingly establish the utility of this dual n/ scintillator for fast neutron spectroscopy. Intrinsic efficiency measurements of both and the first ever CLYC crystal have been initiated, using mono-energetic fast neutron beams at UMass Lowell generated via the Li(p,n) reaction. The spectroscopic capabilities and potential of CLYC are discussed in the context of developing this emerging scintillator for targeted science applications.The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NNSA Stewardship Science Academic Alliance program Grants DE- NA0001988 and DE-NA0002932, and Office of Science Grant DE-FG02-94ER40848. Portions of this work benefited from use of the LANSCE accelerator facility supported under DOE Contract No. DE- AC52-06NA2539