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

Journal article

Authors / Editors

Kureba, Chamunorwa

Research Areas

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Publication Details

Author list: Baranov V, Davydov YI, Erasmus R, Kureba CO, Lekalakala N, Masuku T, Mdhluli JE, Mellado B, Mokgatitswane G, Sideras-Haddad E, Vasilyev I, Zhmurin PN

Publisher: Elsevier

Place: AMSTERDAM

Publication year: 2018

Journal: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms (0168-583X)

Journal acronym: NUCL INSTRUM METH B

Volume number: 436

Start page: 236

End page: 243

Number of pages: 8

ISSN: 0168-583X

eISSN: 1872-9584

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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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 10(13) to 10(17) n/cm(2). 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.

Keywords

Neutron fluence, Neutron radiation, Polystyrene, Radiation damage, Scintillator

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