Luminescence degrading in polyvinyltoluene by ion beam irradiations

Abstract

Polyvinyltoluene is an organic polymer based on a structure of benzenic rings bonded to methylic and vinylic groups. This molecular structure has peculiar luminescent properties in the visible and near ultraviolet wavelength range. The fluorescence induced by photons is investigated as a function of the polymer irradiation with keV–MeV ion beams.

Because the luminescence yield is proportional to the radiation energy released by the incident ions to the polymer, these organic materials are employed as scintillators to detect energetic particle in nuclear physics.

A significant damage induced by radiation at high stopping power reduces the luminescence yield and degrades the polymer properties. The radiation damage increases with the stopping power of the incident particles. A luminescence yield reduction of about 90% is obtained with an absorbed ion dose of the order of 10¹⁴/cm².

Key Words:

• Polyvinyltoluene
• Luminescence
• Radiation damage
• Mass quadrupole analysis