Ultra-Thin Plastic Scintillator-Based Proton Detector for Timing Applications.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Instrumentation and Detectors
• Accelerator Physics and Technology
• Materials Science for Particle Detection

Background:

• Advanced detection systems are crucial for charged particle identification in laser-based accelerators.
• Precise time-of-flight (TOF) measurements are essential for analyzing particle trajectories and energies.
• Ultra-thin plastic scintillators offer low energy loss and minimal dispersion for MeV protons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and characterize a novel detection system for TOF and timing applications.
• To evaluate the performance of an ultra-thin EJ-214 plastic scintillator-based detector.
• To assess the detector's suitability as an external trigger and diagnostic tool at an ion beam nuclear microprobe.

Main Methods:

• Development of a detector system comprising an ultra-thin EJ-214 plastic scintillator, photomultiplier tube, and shielding.
• Characterization of temporal performance and ion transmission of the prototype detector.
• Analysis of scintillator thickness and uniformity using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS).

Main Results:

• Experimental scintillator thickness was found to deviate significantly (46%) from supplier specifications.
• Detector response to MeV protons showed position dependence but linearity with applied bias.
• Successful single ion detection was achieved, validating the system's diagnostic capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed detector system demonstrates effective single ion detection for timing applications.
• The findings highlight the importance of verifying material specifications in detector development.
• This system is a promising diagnostic tool for charged particle analysis in accelerator environments.