Stilbene composite scintillators as detectors of fast neutrons emitted by a 252Cf source

• Stilbene composite scintillators are studied as fission neutron detectors.
• The effects of the grain size and height of the composite detector are studied.
• The results of the light output and transmittance measurements are presented.
• Detection efficiency of a composite scintillator is up to 60% that of a single crystal.

The results of the measurements are presented of the relative efficiency ε for 252Cf fast neutron detection by composite detectors based on stilbene crystalline grains. The effects of the grain size and height of the composite detector on its scintillation properties were studied. It is shown that the efficiency of fast neutron detection of stilbene composite scintillators ranges up to 60% of that of bulk single crystals. The results are also presented for relative light output measurements of stilbene composite detectors irradiated by gamma photons of 137Cs, as well as transmittance data of samples in the range of their transparency absorption.