Optically stimulated luminescence materials for wide-spectrum neutron measurements at CERN

For the first time, Optically Stimulated Luminescent (OSL) materials with enhanced neutron-sensitivity have been irradiated. The neutron irradiations were carried out in the accelerator-like environment of the IRRAD2 facility at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland and in the TRIGA reactor at JSI, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The results show the possibility to measure with good accuracy the thermal and the fast components of these two different neutron spectra by means of OSL materials doped with Boron or mixed with Polyethylene. The applicability of this technology in the measurement of the neutron components in the complex radiation environment expected at CERN LHC experiments is therefore demonstrated.