Semi-empirical calculation of quenching factors for ions in scintillators

Semi-empirical method of calculation of quenching factors for scintillators is described. It is based on classical Birks formula with the total stopping powers for electrons and ions which are calculated with the ESTAR and SRIM codes, respectively. Method has only one fitting parameter (the Birks factor kB) which can have different values for the same material in different conditions of measurements and data treatment. A hypothesis is used that, once the kB value is obtained by fitting data for particles of one kind and in some energy region (e.g. for a few MeV a particles from internal contamination of a detector), it can be applied to calculate quenching factors for particles of another kind and for another energies (e.g. for low energy nuclear recoils) if all data are measured in the same experimental conditions and are treated in the same way. Applicability of the method is demonstrated on many examples including materials with different mechanisms of scintillation: organic scintillators (solid C8H8, and liquid C16H18, C9H12); crystal scintillators (pure CdWO4, PbWO4, ZnWO4, CaWO4, CeF3, and doped CaF2(Eu), CsI(Tl), CsI(Na). NaI(Tl)); liquid noble gases (LXe). Estimations of quenching factors for nuclear recoils are also given for some scintillators where experimental data are absent (CdWO4, PbWO4, CeF3, Bi4Ge3O12, LiF, ZnSe). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.