An apparatus for measuring the timing properties of scintillators for neutron imaging

The development of new instruments for the energy resolved neutron imaging at pulsed neutron sources requires the determination of the decay time of the signal from scintillator plates under working conditions. We present a new apparatus and a method for measuring the time response of various scintillators. After an evaluation of the apparatus accuracy by measuring the time profile of known light signals, we have investigated the properties of three different commercial scintillators at a pulsed neutron beamline. The obtained results are presented and compared in view of their possible use at a new imaging facility.