SBIR-STTR Award

High energy physics research continues to require higher flux rates and radiation levels to probe the nature of matter. Advanced scintillating materials are needed as an important tool in this research. The materials must be able to sustain high count rates and be highly resistant to radiation damage. This project will investigate and develop a new generation of scintillating fluors for use in fabricating new plastic scintillation materials and waveshifting optical fibers. In Phase I, new long wavelength emitting wave shifting fluors will be characterized and tested for radiation hardness. The best of these will be incorporated into optical fibers and tested in combination with plastic scintillating tiles to demonstrate feasibility for use in future particle physics applications.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
In addition to advancing high energy physics research, the new materials also hold promise for developing detection devices of particular use in homeland security for sensing radioactive materials and smuggled goods in baggage and large containers such as trucks and ocean going shipping containers. There is also potential use for dose measurement in radiotherapy.

Organic scintillators and waveshifters are fundamental materials used in the detection of ionizing radiation in experimental detectors for high energy physics research, and in other applications such as nuclear medicine and homeland security.   Future scientific developments will require improving scintillator and waveshifter response time while maintaining high light efficiency, good uniformity, acceptable radiation resistance, and stable environmental characteristics.  This project will develop fast-response, high-efficiency fluorescent dyes for incorporation in organic scintillation and waveshifter materials, in both bulk and fiber-optic form.  In Phase I, a set of promising fluorescent dye structures were identified and synthesized.  A subset was incorporated into bulk organic plastic materials for preliminary characterization of spectral properties, efficiency, and response time.   The dyes with the fastest response time and highest efficiency in the plastic host material were incorporated into organic plastic fibers for further study.  Phase II will optimize the compositions and dye concentrations, and assess material stability in the face of radiation damage and environmental conditions.   Laboratory tooling and techniques will be established to provide efficient and practical synthesis and purification of the organic dyes in significant quantities.  Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee:  In addition to their application to high energy physics research, new scintillation and waveshifter materials should have application to homeland security (for imaging of shipping containers for the detection of contraband, drugs, and explosives), industrial gauging (where scintillators are often placed in hot environments, to allow longer wavelengths for longer instrument lifetimes), and medical dosimetry (where stable, bright, long-wavelength scintillators are continually being requested).