Neutron detectors based on silicon photomultipliers

Neutron detectors comprising a new type of photosensors—silicon photomultipliers—coupled to a single-crystal LiI(Eu) scintillator and a 6 LiF/ZnS(Ag) scintillation screen are described. These detectors are compact, which improves their usability. Some parameters of the detectors are presented, their sensitivity to thermal neutrons and γ rays is estimated, and their possible applications are proposed.