The response of NE-228A, NE-228, NE-224, and NE-102 scintillators to protons from 2.43 to 19.55 MeV

Abstract

The response of NE-228A, NE-228, NE-224, and NE-102 scintillators to protons from 2.43 to 19.55 MeV has been measured relative to electrons. The NE-228A scintillator has the same high hydrogen content (CH 2.11) as NE-228; but it has a 30% higher light output. Proton recoils in this energy range were obtained by elastically scattering (20.76±0.13) and (26.08±0.06) MeV neutrons from protons in the scintillators through angles of 20°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. The neutrons were obtained from the T(d, n)α reaction. The measured response (in units of electron energy) for protons above 5 MeV in NE- 102 is about 8% higher than that assumed in popular computer programs for calculating the neutron detection efficiency of plastic scintillators. The response of NE-228A is equivalent to that of NE-228. The response of NE-224 differs from that of either NE-102 or NE-228.