Characterization of a novel polyurethane-based plastic scintillator for neutron and gamma detection in mixed radiation fields

Abstract

We present studies of a novel plastic scintillator branded M600, which was developed and provided by Target Systemelektronik. This new material is, in contrast to other solid organic scintillators offered by commercial providers, based on a polyurethane matrix complemented with scintillating and wavelength-shifting additives. This paper covers measurements of absolute light output, LO, (photons per 1 MeV-ɣ, ɣ-non-proportionality (NP), light pulse shapes, and neutron-gamma (n/ɣ) discrimination. The measurements were carried out either using standard calibration gamma sources (LO, NP) or in a mixed field of neutron and ɣ radiation from an intense (~4 × 10 neutrons/s/4π) AmBe source (n/ɣ discrimination). The measured light output was 9650±1000 ph/MeV, and the PSD’s figure of merit (FoM) was found as 2.2±0.1 at 1000 keVee for Ø1” × 1” M600 sample. The bigger sample (Ø2” × 2“) exhibits about 25% lower LO and poorer FoM when compared to the Ø1” × 1” M600, due to self-absorption.