Effects of neutron radiation on the optical and structural properties of blue and green emitting plastic scintillators

V. Baranov, Yu I. Davydov, R. Erasmus, C. O. Kureba, N. Lekalakala, T. Masuku, J. E. Mdhluli, B. Mellado, G. Mokgatitswane, E. Sideras-Haddad, I. Vasilyev, P. N. Zhmurin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report on the optical and structural properties of plastic scintillators irradiated with neutron beams produced by the IBR-2 reactor of the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics in JINR, Dubna. Blue UPS-923A and green plastic scintillators were irradiated with neutron fluence ranging from 1013 to 1017 n/cm2. Discolouring in the plastic scintillators was observed after irradiation. The effects of radiation damage on the optical and structural properties of the samples were characterized by conducting light yield, light transmission, light fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy studies. The results showed that neutron radiation induced damage in the material. The disappearance of the Raman peak features in green scintillators at frequencies of 1165.8, 1574.7 and 1651.2 cm−1 revealed significant structural alterations due to neutron bombardment. Losses in fluorescence intensity, light yield and light transmission in the plastic scintillators were observed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)236-243
Number of pages8
JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Volume436
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1 2018
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Instrumentation

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