Analysis of scintillation light intensity by microscopic radiation transport calculation and Forster quenching model

The scintillation light yield of plastic scintillator considering the quenching effect is reproduced by a calculation model based on a track-structure simulation code and the Forster effect. Energy deposition and its nm-scale spatial arrangement in the irradiation by electrons, protons, and heavy ions (He-4 to Br-81) in an NE-102A scintillator were simulated by a track-structure simulation code. The spatial arrangements of the excited molecules emitting scintillation light and those dissipating the excitation energy were then obtained to calculate the strength of the quenching effect. Light emission from the excited molecules was integrated to finally obtain the observable light yield. The calculated light yields are in good agreement with the earlier measurement data. Moreover, in the case of low-LET particle incidence, a statistical micro-dosimetric model can substitute the track-structure simulation code for reproducing the light yield.