Physics and Engineering of Radiation Detection

344 Chapter 6. Scintillation Detectors and Photodetectors

α−Particles

Protons

Electrons

Energy

Li

gh

t Yi

eld

Figure 6.2.6: Variation of light

output of plastic scintillators

with respect to energy for elec-

trons, protons, andα-particles.

Figure 6.2.7: Decrease in transmission observed in a plastic scintillator (SCSN-38)

after ten years of irradiation (7)

The scintillation and optical properties of plastic scintillators can be adjusted
by changing the concentrations of primary and secondary (if any) fluors in the
base. Therefore most manufacturers offer different scintillators based on varying
concentrations of solvents so that the user could make the selection according to the
system requirements. Table.6.2.1 lists the light emission properties of some plastic
scintillators but it should be noted that these values are not typical of most plastic
scintillators.