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In the paper we reported on the scintillation properties and pulse shape discrimination (PSD) performance of new plastic scintillators. The samples with dimension of 2 inches × 2 inches were tested: EJ299-34, EJ299-34G, EJ299-33 and EJ299-33G. They are the first commercially available plastics with neutron/gamma discrimination properties. The paper covers the measurements of emission spectra, photoelectron yield, analysis of the light pulse shapes originating from events related to gamma-rays and fast neutrons as well as neutron/gamma discrimination. The tested plastics are characterized by a photoelectron yield on a level of approximately 1600-2500 phe/MeV, depending on the sample. The highest value, measured for EJ299-34, is similar to the number of photoelectrons measured for EJ309 (2600 phe/MeV). The figure of merit (FOM) calculated for narrow energy cuts — indicating the PSD performance — showed that the PSD capabilities of the plastics are significantly lower than of EJ309. These scintillators are still under development in order to optimize the composition and manufacturing procedures. At this time the results obtained with the new plastics suggest their possible use as an alternative for liquid scintillators, especially if we consider their inflammability and non-toxicity.

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Since early 50's NaI(Tl) scintillators have been commonly used in many branches of physics and industry due to their relatively low price, high light output and fair energy resolution. Through this period of time, both spectroscopic and luminescence properties of NaI(Tl) were measured at room temperature. In this work, the gamma spectrometry and the luminescence properties of the NaI(Tl) at LN 2 temperature were studied. The gamma spectrometry was carried out with the light readout by avalanche photodiodes cooled down together with the crystal in the cryostat. It was observed that non-proportionality measured at LN 2 temperature is significantly better than that at room temperature. The energy resolution of the NaI(Tl) at 662 keV measured at LN 2 temperature was estimated to be 6.57%, comparable to that measured commonly at RT with photomultipliers. A decay time measurement of the NaI(Tl) at LN 2 showed a slower decay of 736±10 ns.