Characterization of water-based liquid scintillator for Cherenkov and scintillation separation

Journal Article · 19 September 2020 · European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-020-8418-4 · OSTI ID:1664491

Caravaca, J. ; Land, B. J.; Yeh, M.; Orebi Gann, G. D.

Abstract This paper presents measurements of the scintillation light yield and time profile for a number of concentrations of water-based liquid scintillator, formulated from linear alkylbenzene (LAB) and 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO). We find that the scintillation light yield is linear with the concentration of liquid scintillator in water between 1 and 10% with a slope of $$$$127.9\pm 17.0$$$$ $127.9\pm 17.0$ ph/MeV/concentration and an intercept value of $$$$108.3\pm 51.0$$$$ $108.3\pm 51.0$ ph/MeV, the latter being illustrative of non-linearities with concentration at values less than 1%. This is larger than expected from a simple extrapolation of the pure liquid scintillator light yield. The measured time profiles are consistently faster than that of pure liquid scintillator, with rise times less than 250 ps and prompt decay constants in the range of 2.1–2.85 ns. Additionally, the separation between Cherenkov and scintillation light is quantified using cosmic muons in the CHESS experiment for each formulation, demonstrating an improvement in separation at the centimeter scale. Finally, we briefly discuss the prospects for large-scale detectors.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231; AC02-98CH10886; SC0018974
• OSTI ID: 1664491
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1706657; OSTI ID: 1693389; OSTI ID: 22980538
• Journal Information: European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields, Journal Name: European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 80; ISSN 1434-6044
• Publisher: SpringerCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English