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Mrinmoy Naskar
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. why plastic scintillator is more useful than other scintillator in beta decay experiment??
A plastic scintillator is a type of detector that is used in particle physics experiments to detect beta particles. It is made of a plastic material that contains scintillating molecules, which emit light when struck by a beta particle.
Plastic scintillators offer several benefits in beta decay experiments. They have a high efficiency for detecting beta particles, meaning they can accurately measure the number of particles passing through them. They also have a fast response time, allowing for precise time measurements. Additionally, they have a low cost and are easy to manufacture, making them practical for large-scale experiments.
When a beta particle passes through a plastic scintillator, it collides with the scintillating molecules in the material, causing them to become excited. As the molecules return to their ground state, they emit light. This light is then detected by a photodetector, which converts it into an electrical signal that can be measured and analyzed.
Plastic scintillators are sensitive to all types of beta particles, including beta minus (β-) and beta plus (β+) particles. They can also detect electrons and positrons, which are the particles produced during beta decay.
While plastic scintillators offer many benefits, they do have some limitations. They are not suitable for detecting alpha particles or gamma rays, which require different types of detectors. Additionally, plastic scintillators can produce background signals from environmental radiation, so careful shielding and background subtraction techniques must be used to ensure accurate results.