Applications of Innovative SiPM-based PVT Scintillator Detectors

Recently, a novel plastic scintillator detector has been developed for detection of illicit trafficking of radionuclides. Silicon Plastic Readout Gamma Detection Technology (SiPR), has been developed jointly by Arktis and other European customers for efficiently detecting gamma radiation from 100 keV up to 3000 keV. SiPR utilizes a plastic scintillator with an embedded Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM)-based light read-out solution. Due to its scalability and modularity, SiPR may have applications ranging from hand-held contamination monitoring systems up to radiation portal monitors. In this study, a comparison is made between the performance of SiPR and a PMT-based detector with the same PVT form factor. In addition, the current study includes optimization of light collection efficiency as a function of the PVT form factor. The latter study has been necessary in order to increase the detection efficiency of low-energy gamma-rays.