Imaging of the scintillation light of float and silica glasses during irradiation of radiations

Abstract

Although luminescence of water during radiation irradiations with energy lower than the Cerenkov-light threshold were found recently, it was not still obvious whether the luminescence or scintillation is produced or imaging is possible in commonly used float or silica glass. Thus we tried to image the produced light from plates and a block made of float or silica glasses during irradiations of radiations. We clearly detected the images of the produced light of glass plates by using an electron multiplied (EM) CCD camera during irradiation of alpha particles for silica glass and float glass. The silica and float glass plates produced 13 photons/MeV and 258 photons/MeV for alpha particles, respectively. The light spectrum showed high intensity for longer wavelength in silica glass plate and it was relatively broad for float glass plate. By combining the float glass plate with a photomultiplier tube (PMT), energy spectrum could be measured for 5.5 MeV alpha particles with the energy resolution of 65% FWHM. We also measured the scintillation image during irradiation of proton to a float glass block. The image in float glass block during irradiation of proton showed light distribution similar to the dose in the glass. These results suggest float or silica glass plates or blocks are promising materials for radiation detection and imaging.