The effect of radiation damage on the light yield and uniformity of candidate plastic scintillator tiles for the CMS hadron calorimeter upgrade

TL;DR

This study investigates how radiation damage affects the light yield and uniformity of plastic scintillator tiles for the CMS hadron calorimeter upgrade, revealing significant light reduction and shape-dependent uniformity changes.

Contribution

It provides experimental data on radiation effects on different scintillator tile shapes, informing upgrade choices for the CMS detector.

Findings

Light yield reduced by up to 50% after irradiation

Current shape maintains uniformity post-irradiation

Alternative shapes show increased non-uniformity

Abstract

A study has been performed to understand the effects of radiation damage on various plastic scintillator tiles considered for a possible upgrade of the hadron calorimeter of the CMS detector. Measurements were made with unirradiated tiles and with tiles that had been irradiated in the CMS collision hall to a dose of 44 kGy. Results are presented for the tiles of different shapes in terms of the energy spectrum, efficiency as a function of the position at which each tile was hit, as well as light yield. All the tiles showed a light reduction of up to about 50%. The tiles with the shape currently used in the CMS detector did not see increased non-uniformity of light collection, while a significant disuniformity was observed for the tiles considered as alternatives.