R&D of glass scintillator for nuclear radiation detection

Abstract

In 2021, the Institute of High Energy Physics proposed a design of glass scintillator coupled with SiPM as a new solution for the next generation calorimeter, to explore the application of glass scintillators in high energy physics and nuclear radiation detection. The Large Area Glass Scintillator Collaboration Group was established to research and develop a glass scintillator with high density, high light yields and fast decay time. Through continuous optimization, the glasses have excellent scintillation performance with a light yield of 1000 ph/MeV and a density of 6 g/cm3. Moreover, the neutron response of the glasses was investigated, and different high-energy particles can be distinguished by signal amplitude. In addition, the radiation resistance of different glasses was tested under proton beam. All the glasses appeared opaque and produced a high radioactive background, because Gd element interacts with proton to produce radionuclides with high activity and long half-life.