Response of plastic scintillator detectors to heavy ions, Z E <= 170 MeV

Abstract

The fluorescent response, L, of plastic scintillators such as NE102 has been measured for a variety of heavy ions, Z = 1-35, at near-normal incidence with energies ranging from a few MeV to over a hundred MeV. The response in general is non-linear with L [is proportial to] f(Z, A)E1.6 in the region E/A R, with L [is proportial to] Z1.22 (R-0.04 Z), where R is in mg/cm2. Such an expression also appears to describe the response of other scintillators, such as NaI(Tl), for heavy ions. Scintillation efficiency, dL/dE, and specific fluorescence, dL/dx, have been deduced from the plastic scintillator data. These quantities do not appear to be simple functions of the ion energy loss, dE/dx. The results can be described using simple models which include the effects of secondary electrons, however.