Light yield and n–γ pulse-shape discrimination of liquid scintillators based on linear alkyl benzene

Abstract The relative light yields of NE-213 and linear alkyl benzene (LAB) based liquid scintillators from electrons were determined in the electron energy range 13–1600 keV using a combination of monoenergetic γ sources and a Compton spectrometer. The light yield was found to be proportional to energy for both types of scintillator and expected deviations below 100 keV were described successfully applying Birks’ law. A description of the Cherenkov light contribution to the total light yield was achieved for both detectors and is in agreement with the electromagnetic theory of fast particles in matter. Digital pulse-shape discrimination in a mixed n – γ field from a 252 Cf source was investigated for LAB+PPO and LAB+PPO+bis-MSB and compared to NE-213. In combination with these two solutes, LAB shows poorer abilities to separate neutron-induced pulses from γ -induced ones.