Evaluation of Pixelated Plastic Scintillators Coupled to Multi-Channel Silicon Photomultipliers for Beta-Ray Detection and Source Localization
Keywords:
Radiation, Detection, Silicon Photomultiplier, Plastic ScintillatorAbstract
This paper presents a novel detector design for radiation detection technology, based on pixelated plastic scintillators coupled to multichannel silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). This study investigated the performance of a detector that combines the efficiency of plastic scintillators with the sensitivity and versatility of SiPMs, overcoming the limitations of traditional photomultiplier tubes in terms of durability, power consumption, and sensitivity. The compact and modular nature of the detector makes it suitable for diverse environments and applications, such as portable radiation monitoring devices or integration into existing experimental setups. The performance of the detector was evaluated using beta-ray sources of 36Cl and 90Sr, and it was demonstrated that the detector can detect and localize the point source with high accuracy and resolution.
References
1. Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan, “Outline of Nuclear Regulation of Japan: Reference documents for the IAEA IRRS Mission,” no. November, 2015.
2. E. D. Nugraha et al., “Comprehensive Exposure Assessments from the Viewpoint of Health in a Unique High Natural Background Radiation Area, Mamuju, Indonesia,” Sci Rep, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1–16, 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-93983-2.
3. Yilmaz et al., “Towards a Better Understanding of Detection Properties of Different Types of Plastic Scintillator Crystals using Physical Detector and MCNPX code,” Nuclear Engineering and Technology, vol. 54, no. 12, pp. 4671–4678, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.net.2022.07.032.
4. U. J. Lee, W. N. Choi, J. W. Bae, and H. R. Kim, “Fundamental Approach to Development of Plastic Scintillator System for in Situ Groundwater Beta Monitoring,” Nuclear Engineering and Technology, vol. 51, no. 7, pp. 1828–1834, Oct. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.net.2019.05.006.
5. D. Badocco et al., “Realization and Characterization of a Protective Coating for Plastic Scintillators used as Sensors of Radioactive Contaminants in Water,” Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A, vol. 906, pp. 50–55, Oct. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2018.07.083.
6. J. W. Bae and H. R. Kim, “Plastic Scintillator Beta Ray Scanner for In-situ Discrimination of Beta Ray and Gamma Ray Radioactivity in Soil,” Nuclear Engineering and Technology, vol. 52, no. 6, pp. 1259–1265, Jun. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.net.2019.11.013.
7. Y. Morishita, Y. Ye, L. Mata, S. A. Pozzi, and K. J. Kearfott, “Radon Measurements with a Compact, Organic-scintillator-based alpha/beta spectrometer,” Radiat Meas, vol. 137, Sep. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106428.
8. Y. Morishita, K. Hoshi, and T. Torii, “Evaluation of an Ultra-thin Plastic Scintillator to Detect Alpha and Beta Particle Contamination,” Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A, vol. 966, Jun. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2020.163795.
9. Rizzo et al., “A Compact Time-Of-Flight Detector for Space Applications: The LIDAL System,” Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A, vol. 898, pp. 98–104, Aug. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2018.05.009.
10. T. Ishikawa et al., “Time Resolution of a 1.8-m Long BC-420 Plastic Scintillator Bar with Metal-packaged H11934 Photomultiplier Tubes,” Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A, vol. 1039, Sep. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2022.167164.
11. S. Sugiyana, H. Prasetio, A. Ikram, M. Syaifudin, and H. N. E. Surniyantoro, “Worker Health Monitoring Through Whole Body Counter Examination for Safety and Radiation Protection (2017-2019 Data),” Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 193–203, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.15294/kemas.v17i2.25911.
12. F. Akter, F. Hafiz, M. A. S. Haque, M. Hoq, and M. Hasan, “Design and Development of Hand and Foot Contamination Monitor,” 2014.
13. W. M. Steinberger, M. L. Ruch, A. Di-Fulvio, S. D. Clarke, and S. A. Pozzi, “Timing Performance of Organic Scintillators Coupled to Silicon Photomultipliers,” Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A, vol. 922, pp. 185–192, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2018.11.099.
14. R. Onda et al., “Optimal Design of Plastic Scintillator Counter with Multiple SiPM Readouts for Best Time Resolution,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 936. Elsevier B.V., pp. 563–564, Aug. 21, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2018.10.070.
15. M. L. Cortés et al., “Silicon Photomultipliers as Readout for a Segmented Time-of-Flight Plastic Detector,” Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A, vol. 899, pp. 101–105, Aug. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2018.05.031.
16. Y. Nakamura, K. Shimazoe, and H. Takahashi, “Silicon Photomultiplier-Based Multi-Channel Gamma Ray Detector Using the Dynamic Time-Over-Threshold Method,” Journal of Instrumentation, vol. 11, no. 2, 2016, doi: 10.1088/1748-0221/11/02/C02016.
17. Y. Yoshihara, N. Nakada, Y. Mizumachi, M. Uenomachi, K. Shimazoe, and H. Takahashi, “Portable Compton Imaging System with Ce : GAGG Crystals and Dynamic Time-over-Threshold Method *,” pp. 17–21, 2019.