Birks' scaling of the particle light output functions for the EJ 299-33 plastic scintillator

The response of the EJ 299-33 plastic scintillator to energetic charged nuclear particles ranging from isotopes of hydrogen to carbon-12 has been analyzed in terms of Birks' semi-empirical approach over the wide range of particle energies from 2 to 20 AMeV. It was found that while the original two-parameter scaling involving Birks' composite quenching parameter kB and an overall conversion efficiency parameter S may be applicable to select sets of particles, a more universal fit would still require individual scintillation efficiencies S-x for individual particle species and more than just one value of the composite Birks' constant kB. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,