Systems and methods for detecting nuclear radiation in the presence of backgrounds

A system for the detection of nuclear radiation in the presence of backgrounds said system comprising:

• a plurality of MIP sensitive scintillators configured from a plurality of scintillator dopants and a plastic material, wherein said plurality of MIP sensitive scintillators comprises a pair of MIP sensitive scintillators, wherein each of said MIP sensitive scintillators includes a central hole thereof;
• a wavelength-shifting fiber located within said hole, wherein said wavelength-shifting fiber absorbs scintillation light having a wavelength thereof and remits said light at a longer wavelength to indicate the presence of at least one minimum ionizing particle;
• a first scintillator layer comprising a plurality of pairs of said MIP sensitive scintillators, wherein an MIP deposits energy within a pair thereof;
• a second scintillator layer comprising a plurality of neutron-sensitive scintillators, wherein said second scintillator layer is sensitive to neutron interactions such that any event within said second scintillator signals the detection of at least one neutron;
• and
• a third scintillator layer comprising a plurality of x-ray sensitive scintillators, wherein said third scintillator layer is sensitive to x-ray interactions such that any event within said third scintillator signals the detection of at least one x-ray.