Proton Light Yield of Fast Plastic Scintillators for Neutron Imaging

Plastic, organic scintillators have been tailored in composition to achieve an ultrafast temporal response, thereby enabling the design and development of fast neutron detection systems with high timing resolution. Eljen Technology's plastic, organic scintillators-EJ-230, EJ-232, and EJ-232Q-are prospective candidates for use in emerging neutron imaging systems, where fast timing is paramount. To support the neutron response characterization of these materials, the relative proton light yields (PLYs) of EJ-230, EJ-232, and EJ-232Q were measured at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Using a broad-spectrum neutron source and a double-time-of-flight technique, the PLY relations were obtained over a proton recoil energy range of approximately 300 keV to 4 MeV. The EJ-230, EJ-232, and EJ-232Q scintillators exhibited similar PLY relations to each other and to other plastic scintillators with the same polymer base material. A comparison of the relative PLY of different sized cylindrical EJ-232 and EJ-232Q scintillators also revealed consistent results. This article provides key input data for the realistic computational modeling of neutron detection technologies employing these materials, thereby supporting new capabilities in near-field radionuclide detection for national security applications.