Abstract
Thermal and cold neutron beamlines require detector systems that have a high neutron efficiency, large active area, and good spatial resolution. One type of detector that has been implemented at beamlines at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is a scintillator-based Anger camera that utilizes photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) as photodetectors. In this work, we present a new Anger camera design that replaces PMTs with silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). This new design offers better resolution, less distortion, and more compactness than the previous cameras. A camera with active area of ∼100 cm2 was shown to have a spatial resolution better than 0.5 mm. Additionally, the use of SiPMs allows for use in strong magnetic fields, opening the possibility of additional experimental capabilities. A prototype has been built that demonstrates vacuum-compatibility, as required for a proposed beamline for the Second Target Station at SNS.
