Studying single neutron high-resolution imaging for 6LiF-ZnS scintillation screens based on particle transport and PSF

As a new imaging method, single neutron imaging based on neutron capture events can significantly improve spatial resolution. However, current imaging methods do not fully utilize their spatial resolution performance. This work studies the key processes of particle transport and fluorescence transport in ⁶LiF-ZnS scintillation screens, proving that spatial resolution still has the potential to be improved. On particle transport, Monte Carlo simulation is used to quantitatively calculate the transport behavior of secondary particles produced by nuclear reactions in scintillation screen. Essential information related to fluorescence, such as the range, magnitude, and shape of the energy distribution, is provided. On fluorescence transport, a theoretical modeling of the transmission of fluorescence photons inside the scintillator was conducted. A new method for calculating point spread functions based on secondary particle transport is proposed. By combining particle transport simulation and fluorescence transport calculation, a more accurate point diffusion function is obtained, which can be used to replace the traditional point light source point diffusion function. This work proves that single neutron imaging based on ⁶LiF-ZnS scintillation screen for neutron event location is a feasible technical route. The physical factors limiting the imaging method and the credible value of the optimal resolution are given. It is further shown that single neutron imaging based on ⁶LiF-ZnS scintillation screen still has the potential to improve the resolution, and has the possibility of better than 9.506μm.