Performance of compact plastic scintillator strips with wavelength shifting fibers using a photomultiplier tube or silicon photomultiplier readout

• Published in: Nuclear science and techniques 2023-02, Vol.34 (2), p.178-189, Article 31
• Main Authors: Li, Min, Wang, Zhi-Min, Liu, Cai-Mei, Lu, Pei-Zhi, Luo, Guang, Hor, Yuen-Keung, Liu, Jin-Chang, Yang, Chang-Gen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beam Physics; Nuclear Energy; Particle Acceleration and Detection; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy
• ISSN: 1001-8042; 2210-3147
• DOI: 10.1007/s41365-023-01175-6

This study presents the design and performance results for compact plastic scintillator strips using a wavelength shifting fiber (WLS-fiber) readout with dimensions of 0.1 m × 0.02 m × 2 m . This approach was evaluated as a candidate for a cosmic-ray muon detector for the Taishan Antineutrino Observatory (JUNO-TAO). The strips coupled with 3-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) were measured and compared between the single-end and double-end readout options. Additionally, a strip using the double-end option coupling with a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) was further evaluated and compared with the results obtained using PMTs. The performance of the strips was determined by a detailed survey along their length with a cosmic-ray muon after detailed characterization of the 3-inch PMTs and SiPMs. The proposed design employing a compact plastic scintillator strip with WLS-fiber coupling to a SiPM provides a good choice for cosmic-ray muon veto detectors, particularly when detector dimensions must be limited.