Institute for Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics (INPA) at LBNL
The INPA Seminar weekly talks are on Fridays, starting at 12:00 pm, unless informed otherwise. The seminar talk starts with a brief presentation of the weekly scientific news. Typically, the talks conclude by 1:00 pm. The seminars are held in the Sessler Conference Room, located in Bldg. 50A- 5132.
Please send all suggestions for future INPA talks and speakers to the INPA Committee.
To be added to the INPA News Mailing List, please contact Erica Hall.
INPA Talks are archived here.
The INPA Committee currently consists of:
2025-26
Daniel Kodroff
Krystal Alfonso
Edmond Chaussidon
- This event has passed.
INPA SEMINAR SPEAKER: Mackenzie Duce (Georgia Tech)-Title: Developments in Polysiloxane-based Scintillators for Radiation Detection
May 16 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Date: May 16, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room – 50A-5132 [Hybrid and In-Person]
Speaker: Mackenzie Duce (Georgia Tech)
Title: Developments in Polysiloxane-based Scintillators for Radiation Detection
Abstract: Organic scintillators are a common choice in radiation detection due to their fast response time, enabling discrimination of incident ionizing radiation via the pulse shapes. Commercially available organic scintillators are typically formulated from polyvinyl-toluene matrices. Still, there is extensive research in alternative bases for these scintillators to improve radiation hardness, ruggedness, and chemical stability without sacrificing radiation detection characteristics. Polysiloxane-based scintillators are formulated from silicone resins, making them rugged and radiation-hard. They have recently shown radiation detection capabilities on par with commercial options while requiring less doping of fluorescent molecules. Now, polysiloxane scintillators doped with Boron-10 enriched molecules have been developed for thermal neutron detection. These scintillators demonstrate a light output of ~6,000 photons/MeVee and a pulse shape discrimination figure of merit surpassing 1.27. As the pulse shapes from fast neutrons (MeV) overlap with those from thermal neutrons (< 0.025 eV), an algorithm has been developed to discern between thermal neutrons and fast neutrons in a mixed-field environment. A survey of 13 B10-doped polysiloxane scintillators formulations, the algorithm development and deployment, and the characterization of a scintillators array for nuclear nonproliferation applications is presented.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/95016696011?pwd=Tk1XOW1Xd3RYRnlsc2tEYmRWZlVVZz09
Meeting ID: 950 1669 6011
Passcode: 247722
INPA guests from campus can now come to the lab early on Fridays. The INPA Common Room (50-5026) is reserved for our guests from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Note that the seminars are now held in 50A-5132 to accommodate a more significant number of attendees.
CPTea Series (also known as INPA Tea Series)
The Physics Division CPTea Series invites you to an In-Person Tea Series 1st Friday of every month at 3:30 pm INPA Conference Room 50-5026.
Everyone is welcome to attend the open forum. Tea and light refreshments will be served.
INPA Common Room (50-5026)
Fridays
3:30 pm
Access to the Lab
For a shuttle pass, please email Erica Hall. The pass is only valid for the day of the seminar.