organic scintillator

Organic scintillators are transparent materials that emit visible or ultraviolet light when struck by ionizing radiation. This light is then converted into an electrical signal by a light sensor, such as a photomultiplier tube or photodiode, allowing for real-time detection of radiation.12

These scintillators can be pure crystals, liquid solutions, or plastics. A key advantage of organic scintillators is their fast decay time, typically in the nanosecond range, which is useful for precise timing measurements. They are particularly effective for detecting charged particle radiation due to their flexible size and shape. However, they are less efficient for detecting gamma rays because their low atomic number hinders full energy absorption.1

Organic scintillators are also used in specialized applications, such as counting low-energy beta particles from radioisotopes like hydrogen-3 or carbon-14, by dissolving the sample directly into the scintillator.1