UCLA

This work seeks improve gamma scintillation light yield of organic plastic scintillators in pursuit of an improved detection technology for radiological and nuclear material. The detection and tracking of such material in transit, especially across borders, is a critical concern to the national security community. Novel polymer systems and additives have been developed, synthesized, and characterized which achieve this end while maintaining the robust nature and ease of fabrication which are the hallmarks of plastic scintillators. The results have shown significant improvement in extrapolated light yield over commercial standards when characterized with photomultiplier tubes. Further analysis has also demonstrated the utility of these materials with solid state silicon photomultiplier type detectors. In pursuit of further gains in performance, a new energy harvesting material making use of developments in the field of thermally activated delayed fluorescent compounds has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The results from this work show promise and point to opportunities to make major increases in plastic light yield through further tailoring matrix and dopant materials.