Detector and readout studies (experimental tests and simulation) for neutron and gamma detection

Nowadays, the applications for nuclear physics have become abundant which paved the way to more intensive and directed research in the field of nuclear detectors. Two example for these applications are the DRAGoN (Drone for Radiation detection of Gammas and Neutrons) project which aims to develop a compact detection system that can fit on an unmanned drone, and the active target of SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) project which aims to study fundamental nuclear physics and astrophysics. In this work, characterisation of an organic detector (EJ-276G) was done to obtain the light output function of the scintillator. Furthermore, the characterization and comparison between the performance of the same scintillator coupled with a novel scintillation material for thermal neutron detection serves the purpose of determining the possibility of this material’s use for the DRAGoN project which requires fast and thermal neutron detection in addition to the gamma detection. The setup was tested with a PMT and an SiPM to compare the performance in both cases. Simulation was made to determine the efficiency of the scintillator using Californium source to compare with the experimental efficiency. Finally, a characterisation of a relatively new inorganic crystal was made from Strontium Iodide was made using PMT and SiPM to determine its energy resolution using different setups to assess the possibility of its use for the DRAGoN project or for secondary detection system for an experiment of SPES.