1. Status of the Neutromania project Neutromania : research group on solid organic scintillators Aim : design a new scintillator for the detection of neutrons : solid able to discriminate neutrons and gammas 2 year funding by the ANR (09/2005-09/2007)

2. Additional desirable properties: hydrogen rich fast (  ~ 1 ns) high scintillation efficiency use under vacuum attenuation length ~ 1 m  large detectors cheap emission in blue-green (400-500 nm) Organic scintillators with good n-  discrimination properties = liquids: toxic & flammable containers  leaks, contamination by O 2 no use in vacuum Organic crystals (stilbene, anthracene,...) can discriminate but: response depends on recoil direction expensive large detectors difficult to make Motivations  need for a new solid material able to discriminate

3. Institution/LabCoordinatorFieldTasks IPHC-DRS Strasbourg L. Stuttgéphysics/chemistry design/synthesis of materials emission/absorption spectra scintillation & discrimination tests IPCMS Strasbourg L. Doucechemistry* design/synthesis of materials emission/absorption spectra LCMT CaenT.-N. Phamchemistry* design/synthesis of materials emission/absorption spectra LPC Caen M. Marquésphysicsscintillation & discrimination tests CEA SaclayS. Normandchemistry*/physics design/synthesis of materials emission/absorption spectra scintillation & discrimination tests ULB Brussels F. Hanappephysics/chemistry interface chemistry-physics design of materials discrimination mechanisms * post-doc hired on ANR funding

4. Definition of candidate materials Definition/test of manufacture processes:  « how to get a clean sample with a reasonable size and shape... » no contaminants (oxygen, polymerisation starter, molds,...) transparent, no bubbles 1 x 1 x 1 cm 3 On the 3 sites : tens of samples synthesized and tested mainly polymers several show scintillation 1 material shows n-g discrimination, 1 shows high light production Discrimination mechanisms: discrimination observed in cooled DEMON (@ -37 ° C) chemical analysis of NE213 (NMR,...) What was done

5. DEMON Sample 151 Q slow vs Q fast neutrons gammas Discrimation tests at LPC AmBe source and digital ADC (12bits, 2 GHz)

6. 1 material shows discrimination Solid, crystalline (key?) Melting temperature « adjustable » No vapour tension (OK for vacuum ?) Emission ~ 390 nm But low light production (opaque...) « Breakthroughs » 1 material with high light production Better than BC400 Polymer Transparent But : No discrimination Improve scintillation efficiency/transparency Test influence of cristalline structure on discrimination Patent? Keep testing other materials Asking for 3 year funding by ANR Start building a prototype in 2 years? Caen Strasbourg