Summary of the radiation damage studies of the SDC dopants in polystyrene

摘要

Approximately 80 commercially available fluorescent organic compounds were studied as dopants in a polystyrene matrix for possible use in wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers. The goal was to find a new green- emitting WLS fiber which would outperform in light yield and decay time the currently available fiber doped with K-27. Therefore the fluorescent compounds of interest should exhibit the following spectroscopic characteristics in polystyrene: (lambda)(sub abs) = 400--450 nm,(lambda)(sub em) = 450--550 nm, (tau) = 3--7 ns and quantum efficiency of minimum 0.7. Polystyrene samples doped with different fluorescent compounds were prepared and characterized. Of all the compounds tested, only a series of coumarins exhibited the spectroscopic characteristics of interest. Radiation damage studies had to be performed on these samples in order to conclusively determine if they were better candidates than K-27 for green WLS fibers. AU samples except those showing opacity or deep coloration were irradiated. They were, however, separated in two sets. Radiation damage set No. 20 was mainly formed by the coumarin derivatives. Radiation damage set No. 22 was based on the remaining samples. The irradiations were performed at the Phoenix Memorial Laboratory using a (sup 60)Co source. Both sets were exposed to a total dose of 10 Mrad in air, at a dose rate of 1.8 Mrad/h. Transmittance measurements were recorded before and after irradiation, and after annealing. After irradiation, the samples were annealed in oxygen to accelerate the recovery process.