NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS 95 (I97I) I4I--I53; © NORTH-HOLLAND PUBLISHING CO.

P U L S E S H A P E D I S C R I M I N A T I O N I N I N O R G A N I C AND O R G A N I C S C I N T I L L A T O R S . I

R. A. WINYARD, J. E. LUTKIN and G. W. McBETH

Applied Physics Department, Brighton Polytechnic, Brighton, England

Received 13 April 1971

The zero crossing technique of pulse shape discrimination figure of merit and particle rejection ratios is indicated. Results
(P.S.D.) has been employed to study the P.S.D. properties of a are presented which indicate the effect of dynamic range on
wide range of organic and inorganic scintillators.A figure of discrimination. The excellent P.S.D. properties of CsI(Na) are
merit for P.S.D. has been defined and the relation between the also discussed.

1. Introduction time of the bipolar pulse then determines the particle

The zero crossing method of pulse shape discrimi- type. An idealised distribution of zero crossing times
nation (P.S.D.) ''5) has become increasingly popular for hypothetical particle types " a " and " b " is shown
as a means of suppressing g a m m a ray background in in fig. 1.
neutron detection systems which utilise organic scin- The distribution of zero crossing times can be used
tillators. The main advantage of this method of P.S.D. to define a P.S.D. figure of merit " M " . With reference
is its suitability for use over a large dynamic range of to fig. 1.
pulse amplitudes (variations greater than 100: 1). It is Ma, b = T/(t a + tb),
not generally realised, however, that zero crossing
where T is the seperation between the time peaks and
systems are equally suitable for use with inorganic
ta and tb are the respective fwhm of the zero crossing
scintillators where the scintillation decay times are
time distributions.
comparitively long ( ~ 200ns). In addition zero
In any measurement of M the following should be
crossing P.S.D. systems are sufficiently versatile for the
stated:
determination of the P.S.D. properties of most scin-
tillators (organic and inorganic) to be demonstrated a. nature of the source(s);
rapidly with the minimum of adjustment to the b. dynamic range of pulse amplitudes;
system parameters. c. count rate.
The object of this paper is to demonstrate the
versatility of such a system, to suggest standard
procedures for determining P.S.D. properties of scin- T
tillators and P.S.D. scintillation systems and finally i

to compare the P.S.D. properties of such scintillators

and systems.

2. P.S.D. figure of merit "M"

In a zero crossing P.S.D. system ionising particles
of types " a " and " b " interacting with the scintillator
produce at the dynode of the photomultiplier, current
pulses with decay times determined by the decay times I
of the scintillations produced in the scintillator. After
integration and subsequent double differentiation
bipolar voltage pulses are produced from the dynode
current pulses. These bipolar pulses cross the base line
/ ~OA

at a time uniquely determined by the shape of the CHANNEL NUMBER

dynode current pulse (independent of amplitude) i.e.

Fig. 1. ldealised zero crossing time distribution for hypothetical
at a time uniquely determined by the nature of the particles "a" and "b", of differing ionisation densities, inter-
exciting particle. Measurement of the zero crossing acting with a scintillator.
141
142 R.A. WINYARD et al.

These are important considerations since they will electronic limitations rather than by the intrinsic
ultimately determine the degree of discrimination that P.S.D. properties of the scintillator. In this respect
is achieved. In particular, measurements made at high measurements made over large dynamic ranges give
count rates will give rise to spurious time peaks (pulse M values characteristic of the whole system, whereas,
pile up) and measurements performed over large measurements performed over narrow dynamic ranges
dynamic ranges may yield M values determined by yield M values characteristic of the scintillator.

PARTICLE "CL' PARTICLE "b"

M=O.S

/// ",, \.\

/ ,' I 1 ,, M+O+,," / ; ', \
, / 1 / I
// ,/ /1 1/ // /\ ',,
, \\
,,- ,,,,/ \ j \ ,,,-,.,
./ .,, j ~ .:..o j ~._ ',._ \.
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 2. Idealised relationship between the figure of merit Mo,b and the distribution of zero crossing times for hypothetical particles
of types "a" and "b ".

a 1 l I':) 451W 426 "~

AMPLIFIER DELAY LINEAR
,-- GATE ]

I 156 AVP ~ AMPLIFIER PULSE HEIGHT

[ [ [ p,,. 427* ANALYSER

I~ P~A~RUF,ER L J 1/
I I 3~ . AMPLIFIER [
4BSW I
J ]T U N N E L DIODE [
I ID tSCmM LNATOR ZERO-CROSSING
["~" 417 ~ ~ ~ 'D"ETE C~ 0~I~"~ [ I
420~

DELAY *
GENERATOR 437A
416A +~ TIME- TO-AMPLITUDE
CONVERTOR

[q~__ 4.0+
>. Y ~ .=

S,NGLE CHANNEL
ANALYSER
")<- ORTEC iP ~ J~-
I I GATE

[ ~ PULSE HEIGHT
ANALYSER

Fig. 3. Block diagram of the zero crossing P.S.D. system.

 PULSE SHAPE D I S C R I M I N A T I O N 143

Fig. 2 shows idealised symmetrical zero crossing 3. Electronics for P.S.D.

time distributions for particle types " a " and " b " for a The electronics of the zero crossing P.S.D. system
range of M values. is entirely conventional and is similar to the system
From the hypothetical curves of fig. 2 theoretical described by Gedcke and WiltiamsS). A block diagram
rejection ratios for particles of type " a " can be calcu- of the system is shown in fig. 3. Fig. 4 indicates the time
lated assuming that a P.S.D. bias has been set for a relationship amongst the pulses produced at various
100% counting efficiency of particles of type " b " points in the system.
These rejection ratios are given in table 1. The maximum amplitude of the P.S.D. signal at the
output of the time to amplitude convertor is 10 V
and the sensitivity of the system can be adjusted
TABLE 1 continuously from 0.2 V per ns difference in zero
crossing time to 0.2 V per #s difference in zero crossing
Ma,b Rejection ratio for " a " time. Typically, the differences in zero crossing times
that have to be measured in this system lie between
0.5 2:1 50ns and 1.5/~s, depending on the nature of the
0.75 12.5:1 source and scintillator.
1.0 750:1
/>1.5 oo
4. Organic liquid scintillators
Organic liquid scintillators 40 m m diameter × 40 m m
long were examined for neutron g a m m a P.S.D. The
In theory it is possible to achieve complete rejection source used was a 100 mCi 241Am-Be filtered by 2.5 m m
of unwanted particles providing the P.S.D. M value is of lead in order to reduce the intense 60 keV g a m m a
greater than 1.5. In practice infinite rejection ratios are radiation. The count rate in the scintillator was chosen
rarely achieved owing to random effects in the P.S.D. to be less than l03 S- 1.
system (i.e. summing, coincidences, etc.). The My,, values obtained in these measurements for
In the following sections, " a " and " b " will refer to the two equivalent electron energy ranges 0.05 MeV
the initial particles interacting with the scintillator. to 7 MeV and 0.9 MeV to 1.1 MeV are presented in
Thus, if neutrons and g a m m a rays are the incident table 2.
particles, reference will be made to the neutron-gamma These results show that the xylene [ C 6 H 4 ( C H 3 ) 2 ]
P.S.D. properties. If the neutrons are converted into
TABLE 2
protons in a radiator external to the scintillator, the
P.S.D. properties under investigation will be proton-
g a m m a P.S.D. Scintillator Solvent M~,a 0.05 to 7 MeV
0.9 to l.l MeV

ANODE ~/a,b aNE213 xylene 3.1 2.5

NE211 xylene 2.4 1.5
TUNNEL DIODE NE218 special solvent 1.8 1.5
DISCRIMINATOR V%I~ bKL356 xylene 2.5 2.3
DELAY KL360 xylene 2.8 1.9
GENERATOR V% b KL360 2:1 xylene: Triton × 100 1.1 0.8
KL360 dioxan 1.8 1.4
KL359 xylene 2.8 2.0
pRE- AMPLIFIER KL351 xylene 1.8 1.5
KL380 special solvent 1.7 1.3
AMPLIFIER KL352 xylene 1.9 1.5
KL389 toluene 1.8 1.6
ZERO- CROSSING K L HI heptane 0 0
DETECTOR V'Vb b KL HID heptane 0 0
K L H2D heptane 0 0
TIME-TO-AMPLITUDE ~ _ _ _ _ K L H3 heptane 0 0
CONVERTOR K L H4 heptane 0 0

Fig. 4. Time relationships amongst the pulse forms at various ~ N E - Nuclear Enterprises, Edinburgh, Scotland.
points in the P.S.D. system, b KL - Koch-Light Laboratories, Colnbrook, England.
144 R.A. WINYARD et al.

based scintillators NE213, KL356, KL359 and was added in an attempt to enhace any slow com-
KL360 (xylene) have excellent neutron-gamma P.S.D. ponents present in the scintillation decay6,7). It should
KL360 also has extremely useful neutron-gamma be noted, however, that NE211 has good P.S.D. even
P.S.D. with dioxan ( 2 C 2 H ¢ O ) a s the primary solvent. though napthaline is not present as a secondary solvent.
Heptane [CH3(CH2)sCH3] based scintillators have In order to investigate P.S.D. in liquid scintillators
a high hydrogen content which makes them highly with other primary solvents, an experimental toluene
efficient as neutron detectors. However, the heptane (C 6 Hs-CH3) scintillator was devised in joint consul-
scintillators investigated did not exhibit P.S.D. pro- tation with Koch-Light Laboratories Ltd. This scin-
perties. In KL H3 and KL H4 additional napthaline tillator was found to have good neutron-gamma P.S.D.

XlO
3 XlO 3
16
KL 3 6 0 (XYLENE) /~ KL 3 6 0 (,XYLENE')
6

~4 • " Z
80
~- 124
u

0
0 IOO 200 300 400 O ,00 ~00 ~00 400
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBE~
XlO 3 ~jo ~
12 ME ~,~ lXYLENE)

g~ Z e
0
u u

C C
0 IOO 200 300 4OO I00 200 300 400
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER
i0 ~ ×tO 3
KL 3 8 9 ( T O L U E N E 0.9 to I.IMcV KL 38g (TOLUENE) O,06to 7McV

~8
0
u

0
0 50
,2
IOO 150
\200
O
O 50 IOO ISO 200

XlO:?' CHANNEL NUMBER

XlO
CHANNEL NUMBER

KL 352 ( X Y L E N E ) KL 352 (XYLENE)

12 O.9 t o I . I M c V 15
to
h-
z
:3 8 z pc
O 0
U u

O
I00
\ 200 300 400 500 IOO 200 300 400
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 5 . Zero crossing time distributions arising f r o m the b o m b a r d m e n t o f organic liquid scintillators with neutrons and g a m m a rays
f r o m an 2 4 1 A m - B e source. In each case the equivalent electron energy range is indicated. The peak due to neutrons is that occurring
at the higher channel number.
 PULSE SHAPE DISCRIMINATION 145

,~10
3 ~10
3
KL 3 5 9 ( X Y L E N E ) KL 359 (XYLENE)
O ' 9 to I" I McV
20 MeV
0 " 0 5 to 7

16
Z
o u B

\ 4

0
O IOO 2bo 3o0 460 0 IO 0 200 300 400
CHANNEL NUMBEP, CHANNEL NUMBER
x l o~ xlo 3
NE 211 (XYLENE)
3 NE 211 (XYLEN£) 0 - 0 S to 7 MeV
0"9 I.IMeV
to

~2
U

I00 260 300 ~o o~ I00 200 300 400

xlO 3
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER
KL 356 ( X Y L E N E )
0 " 9 to I. I McV KL 356 (XYLENE)

16 0 , 0 5 to 7 McV

in
z~12
u0 0
u 8

O 50
i
lO0 I SO 200
,
o 50 IOO 150 200
x103 CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER
~10
KL 3 6 0 (DIO×AN)
0.9to I . I B
6

g ~4
0
u

0
IOO 150 200 250 300
0
I00 150 200 250 30O
CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 6. Further zero crossing time distributions obtained with organic liquid scintillators.

properties and is now produced commercially as technique described above. Figs. 7a and b show the
KL389. zero crossing time distributions obtained for the two
Figs. 5 and 6 show typical zero crossing time distri- equivalent electron energy ranges 0.05 MeV to 7 MeV
butions measured on some of the scintillators discussed and 0.9 MeV to 1.1 MeV for which the respective M
in table 2. The type of scintillator and the equivalent values of Mn,r = 1.8 and M,,r = 2.1 were obtained.
electron energy range over which the measurements In addition, stilbene was investigated for alpha-
were performed is indicated in each case. gamma P.S.D. In this case the energy range was
restricted to the pulse amplitudes which spanned the
5. Stilbene alpha peak produced by an Z41Am source (i.e. an
A 40 mm diameter x 10 mm thick stilbene crystal was equivalent electron energy range of 0.35 MeV to
examined for neutron-gamma P.S.D. using the 0.65 MeV).
146 R.A. W l N Y A R D et al.

Fig. 7c shows the distribution of zero crossing In order to test the P.S.D. system a pulse height
signals for simultaneous irradiation of stilbene with distribution produced by 241Am alpha particles in the
alpha particles from 241Am and gamma rays from stilbene crystal was recorded. This measurement of
6°Co. The M value obtained in this case was M=,~ = 1.8. the alpha particle pulse height distribution was
Fig. 7d shows similar results to those in fig. 7c repeated in the presence of an intense gamma back-
except that in this case the equivalent electron energy ground from 6°Co. P.S.D. was then employed to veto
range was 0.05 MeV to 2 MeV. The M value here was gamma events. The pulse height distribution obtained
only marginally reduced to M,,r = 1.6. was found to be identical with that produced in the

3
XIO
(o.) (b)
STILBENE STILBENE

• ,
4 2

0
2

ol
0 IOO 200 300 400
#
0 200 300 400
x I 0 ~" CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER
×10 z

STILBENE (d)
16 O'O5 t o 2 M c V

~m

~8

O
O IOO 200 300 400 0 IOO 200 300 400
C H A N N E L NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 7. Zero crossing time distributions measured with stilbene (a) and (b), source Am-Be, (c) and (d), source 241Am (5.4 MeV
alpha particle) + 60Co. The equivalent electron energy ranges are indicated in each case.

xlO

1.8 i
.;-'*"..,
!
.,. ,.. ,,..,, :....°.....'°" ": • z.','.,..,
1.5 ":. "::"" ":L....@
., ~ °'.°° ° ......~o .°... ~.°°°''4°

zz 1,2

n, 0-9 •" @ k
-4

z~" 0.6 o,
o ,°
,.."
O-3 ;.t"" "
','.. e* %.
%
";-%.
O
O IOO 200 300
C H A N N E L NUMBER

Fig. 8. Curve A - pulse height distribution produced in stilbene under the simultaneous bombardment with alpha particles from
Z41Am and gamma rays from 6°Co. Curve B is the pulse height distribution produced with P.S.D. being employed to veto gamma
induced interactions in the scintillator.
 PULSE SHAPE DISCRIMINATION 147

absence of the gamma radiation• This provides good TABLE3

evidence that the P.S.D. system is functioning correctly.
The results of these measurements are summarised Scintillator Mn,y
in fig. 8.
Stilbene has been investigated by Walter et al. B) for Naton 136 0.71
alpha-neutron P.S.D. by simultaneous bombardment KL236 0.71
with alpha particles from the daughters of 228Th and KL P1 0.8
KL P4a 0.8
neutrons from a Po-Be source. Some alpha-neutron KL P4b 0.7
P.S.D. was obtained for the high energy alpha particles KL P5 0.82
(8.78 MeV from 2~2p0) but little evidence of P.S.D. KL P10a 0.8
was obtained at lower alpha particle energies. Unfor- KL P10b 0.6
KL D2 0.83
tunately no quantitative measurements of P.S.D. were KL D3 0.87
made in these experiments which utilised a dual KL D6 0.87
parameter charge comparison system• NE 102A 0.62
In the present series of measurements stilbene was NE 111 0.62
NE 110 0
investigated for neutron-alpha P.S.D. by simul-
taneously bombarding the crystal with alpha particles
(5.4MeV from 241Am) and neutrons (Z41Am-Be the equivalent of an M of M,,, = 0.56 at an alpha
source). No P.S.D. was observed. Separate irradiations particle energy of 8.3 MeV measured over an equivalent
showed, however, that the neutron and alpha particle electron energy range of 0.7 MeV to 0.8 MeV. These
zero crossing time distributions were displaced with measurements were performed using a dual parameter
respect to each other and were consistent with an M charge comparison system.
value M,,, = 0.2. These results are summarised in fig. 9, The above measurements give rise to confidence that
where the equivalent electron energy range spanned the zero crossing technique may be capable of equally
in the measurements was 0.35 MeV to 0.65 MeV. good P.S.D. in stilbene as that obtained in charge
These results are consistent with those of Kopsch comparison at 8 MeV alpha particle energy• This will
and Cierjacks 9) who obtained the equivalent of an M be the subject of a further investigation, however,
value of M,,~ = 0.08 over the same equivalent electron preliminary measurements yield the value M,,, = 0.5
energy range in NE213. These authors also obtained at 8 MeV alpha particle energy•

3
×10
STILBEN E
1.4

~+oC
o•'°
1.2

"x
x
"x
1.0

z "~ ; "6 #°i"

u r 0o o.
oo o ~,
x .° o
~. 0"6

.~ 0°
a ~x ~ o"
z
~ 0,4 ) °"
x ~ " % x %

0-2 x .~

. , .4 . ° °~,~, . . . . . . ~.. o ~~ * ~ " t ~t

0
SO I00 150 200 250
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 9. Zero crossing time distributions produced in stilbene under simultaneous and separate irradiations with alpha particles from
Z41Am and neutrons and gamma rays from 241Am-Be.
148 R.A. WINYARD et al.

6. Plastic scintillators tolerated. Another application of the limited P.S.D.

Plastic scintillators do not have P.S.D. properties properties of plastic scintillators is in the measurement
comparable with those of organic liquid scintillators. of nuclear lifetimes. In this case P.S.D. can be used
Most plastics do, however, exhibit a degree of P.S.D. to suppress background from unwanted particles
which may be useful in applications where accurate (e.g. gamma background in an alpha detector in an
knowledge of the pulse height distribution is not alpha-gamma time correlation measurement).
required. Thus, in neutron time of flight spectrometry, A series of commercial and experimental plastics
the gamma ray background may be suppressed almost 40 mm in diameter x 40 mm thick were examined for
completely by P.S.D. providing that a reduced detection neutron-gamma P.S.D. over the equivalent electron
efficiency (e.g. 50%) for the recoil protons can be energy range 0.9 MeV to 1.1 MeV. Zero crossing time

3 3
XlO XlO

NEIO2A NE I I I

U u
4 3

0 L O
0 IOO 200 300 400 O IOO 200 300 400
xlO 3 CHANNEL NUMBER CHANNEL NUMBER
XlO ~
NE I 1 0 KL 236
6

0
u

50
XlO 3
1(30 150 200
C H A N N E L NUMBER
4
~ i 0 -~
I00 200 300
CHANNEL NUMBER
46o

K L 1o5 KL D2
8

z
P-a
z

o 4 0
~2

2 I

0
IOO 200 300 4(30 I00 200 300 400
C H A N N E L NUMBER C H A N N E L NUMBER
x 103 XlO 3

KL D3 6 KL D6

~3
0
u
2

O IOO 200 300

CHANNEL
400
NUMBER
~4
0
u

I()O
?C 200 300
CHANNEL
400
NUMBER

Fig. 10. Zero crossing time distributions arising from the bombardment of plastic scintillators with neutrons and gamma rays from
an ~41Am-Be source. The equivalent electron energy range was 0.9 MeV to 1.! MeV.
 PULSE SHAPE DISCRIMINATION 149

distributions for a representative range of plastics are appropriate P.S.D. M values obtained were M,,~ = 5.0,
presented in fig. l0 and the appropriate M values Mp,r = 3.7 and M,,p = 1.4.
(i.e. M,,r) are listed in table 3. On larger dynamic ranges of pulse heights the
The M.,r figures of merit measured over a large P.S.D. is poorer.
dynamic range (0.05 to 7.0 MeV) are not greatly Fig. 12 shows alpha particle-gamma P.S.D. in
different from those listed in table 3 (e.g. KL236 Csl(Na) for the equivalent electron energy range
M,,~ = 0.60 and K L PI M,,~ = 0.54). 50 keV to 3 MeV. In this measurement the scintillator
It is interesting to note that the fast plastic KL236 was bombarded simultaneously with alpha particles
(Naton 136) has superior neuton-gamma P.S.D. to that from 241Am and g a m m a rays from Say resulting in a
of the fast plastic N E I 11. For optimum neutron-gamma P.S.D. figure of merit of M,,r = 3.0.
P.S.D. the experimental plastics KL D3 and K L D6 The above measurements were repeated on CsI(Tl),
were found to be the most suitable of all those exa- where excellent proton-gamma and alpha-gamma
mined. P.S.D. were obtained. It was found, however, to be
impossible to obtain proton-alpha P.S.D. This is at
7. CsI(Na) and CsI(Ti) variance with the results of Forte et al. ~°) who obtained
Thin crystals of CsI(Na) and CsI(T1) 4 0 m m good alpha-proton-gamma P.S.D. in CsI(Tl). It must
diameter x 1 mm thick were examined for gamma- be pointed out, however, that the results of Forte
proton and gamma-alpha P.S.D. et al. are not in agreement with the generally accepted
CsI(Na) was bombarded simultaneously with alpha relationships between scintillation decay times and the
particles from 241Am, g a m m a rays from 241Am-Be, specific ionisation density in the track of the exciting
and recoil protons from a polythene neutron convertor particle.
foil placed in contact with the scintillator. In these Fig. 13 shows the distribution of zero crossing times
measurements the equivalent electron energy range in CsI(Tl) simultaneously irradiated with alpha
was restricted to 2.5 to 3.0 MeV. The results obtained particles from 241Am and g a m m a rays from 6°Co. The
are shown in fig. 11. The identities of the various peaks equivalent electron energy range spanned was 0.8 to
in the distribution of zero crossing times were esta- 1 MeV and the appropriate M value was M,,~ ( = Mp,r)
blished by performing separate irradiations. The =2.6.

2.
xlO

CsI (N),:,-

/5 • •
,o ÷lO

,,I J.
z
z 3
,-r
U

2
t--
0
u

• ;
O
.o- i "o." ".o °
,
• o0 , • •
i
150 200 250 300 350
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 11. Zero crossing time distributions produced in CsI(Na) under simultaneous bombardment with alpha particles, protons and
gamma rays.
150 R.A. WINYARD et al.

xlO

1"2

0-8

o<.

0"4

~.-'~. ~
•o "~ ..

• °

O "":"
150 200 250 300
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 12. Zero crossing time distributions p r o d u c e d in CsI(Na) u n d e r s i m u l t a n e o u s b o m b a r d m e n t with alpha particles a n d g a m m a
rays. This m e a s u r e m e n t s p a n n e d the relatively large equivalent electron energy range of 0.05 MeV to 3 MeV.

3
x'lO

•"
• °
CsZ(rl_)

ot

• y

°°
".
: : .."
: %° o .° "..
," , "t, ,.'"
°.~
0 150 200 250 300 350 400 450
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 13. Zero crossing time distributions p r o d u c e d in CsI(TI) u n d e r s i m u l t a n e o u s b o m b a r d m e n t with alpha particles a n d g a m m a
rays. T h e equivalent electron energy range was 0.8 MeV to 1.0 MeV.
 P U L S E SHAPE D I S C R I M I N A T I O N 151

3
XlO
.-.
2 ":

z ..':.,
•,, . ;o
:32
u

4 "
-' ,

0 °."
t"

.°o°°.;° ",~,o.
,°- :'.
°..° *,
0 -"f °°°i°l , .or °•° , *°t ,
150 20( 250 300 350 400 450
CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 14. Zero crossing time distributions produced in CsI(TI) under simultaneous b o m b a r d m e n t with alpha particles and gamma rays.
The equivalent electron energy range was 0.02 MeV to 1 MeV.

3
xlO
KG 2L LITHIUM GLASS
....°•.
°• xx x
x

• x

x
x
x
°

•x

t
x•

x
jt

x
x
x

? x

C ~t
¢
• g
7 ~t

/
x
o- x~
•, x~t
~t
• /
,°

~°°0oo,~'°°•°°~ / ••'°'°°,,th i~ x x a x ~ , t : ¢ ~
150 200 250
CHANNEL NUMBEI~

Fig. 15. Zero crossing time distributions produced in a K G 2 L scintillator for separate irradiations with g a m m a rays and moderated
241Am_Be neutrons•
152 R.A. WINYARD etal.

XI(

1.4
KG 21_ L,rH,UM GLAS~

1,2 ~.:-"..
Xoo
~. ".°

o % .,~
I,O

oo oQ x
o o x
z oo °x
=y,
o ox
-r
u
*17 ~X
o
(3.
O-6

O °•
u
0.,4
¢ o
o
o
o
°
\
/
?
eo
o °°

• °.•°
\ o
0.2
2 .°
,.4"° 8° ..
°•,o
• °°°oo, •
",.o.o°.. o°...
%o
° ~ ~~ x
o sb t~ i~o 200 250

CHANNEL NUMBER

Fig. 16. Zero crossing time distributions produced in a KG2L scintillator under separate and simultaneous irradiations with alpha
particles and gamma rays.

Fig. 14 illustrates alpha-gamma P.S.D. in CsI(TI) gamma rays from 6°C0 were carried out. The results
over the equivalent electron energy range 20 keV to obtained are summarised in fig. 16 where the equivalent
1 MeV, The appropriate M value obtained was electron energy range was restricted to 1 MeV to
M=,r(= Mp,=) = 2.6. 1.2 MeV. The M value appropriate to gamma-alpha
P.S.D. was Mr, = =0.44.
8. Lithium glass scintillators
A series of cerium activated lithium glass scintillators 9. Conclusions
(enriched in 6Li) were examined for neutron-gamma The results presented above demonstrate the
P.S.D. In each glass that was investigated only versatility of the zero crossing technique of P.S.D. In
partial neutron-gamma P.S.D. was obtained. addition the P.S.D. properties of scintillators have been
In fig. 15 the distribution of zero crossing times in a assessed quantitatively•
K G 2L glass 25 mm diameter x 5.0 mm thick resulting A range of scintillators with good P,S.D. properties
from separate irradiations with moderated 24~Am-Be for neutron physics (KL359 etc) has been brought to
neutrons and gamma rays from 6°Co are presented. the attention of potential users• Finally, the remarkable
The equivalent electron energy range was restricted P.S.D. properties of Csl(Na) have been demonstrated.
to 0.5 MeV to 1.5 MeV. The results obtained were
consistent with an M value Mr, . = 0.36. This glass is
similar to the glass scintillator reported to have P.S.D. References
properties by CocevaZl). The measurements carried 1) T. K. Alexander and F. S. Goulding, Nucl. Instr. and Meth.
out by Coceva imply Mr, n = 0.4. 13 (1961) 244.
e) M. L. Roush, M.A. Wilson and W. F. Hornyak, Nucl.
In order to further investigate the P.S.D. properties Instr. and Meth. 31 (1964) 112.
of KG 2L scintillators, separate and simultaneous 3) C. M. Cialella and J. A. Devanney, Nucl. Instr. and Meth.
irradiations with alpha particles from 241Am and 60 (1968) 269.
 PULSE SHAPE DISCRIMINATION 153

4) T. G. Miller, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 63 (1968) 121. s) G. Walter, A. Huck, J. P. Trevetin and A. Coche, J. Phys.
s) D. A. Gedcke and C. W. Williams, High resolution time Radium 24 (1963) 1017.
spectrometry (Ortec, 1968). a) D. Kopsch and S. Cierjacks, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 54 (1967)
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N. W. Hill and R. Textor, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 65 (1968) 8. lo) M. Forte, A. Konsta and C. Maranyana, Nuclear electronics
7) W. R. Burrus and V. V. Verbinski, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 2 (IAEA, Vienna, 1962) p. 265.
67 (1969) 181. 11) C. Coceva, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 21 (|963) 93.