A compact neutron–gamma spectrometer

A compact neutron/gamma detector has been developed using a liquid scintillator cell coupled to a Flat Panel PMT; performances have been compared with a second cell coupled to a traditional linearly-focused 12 dynodes PMT. Energy resolution and pulse shape discrimination (PSD) measured by using a fast digitizer are very similar for the two detectors with the time resolution of the Flat Panel PMT slightly worse. The new detector results to be weakly affected by the influence of a moderate magnetic field while the traditional PMT exhibits strong pulse reduction. The compact size and the low power consumption obtained by using the Flat Panel PMT are very useful in portable neutron/gamma spectrometers.