The response of plastic scintillator to protons and deuterons

Data on the absolute light output L(E) of plastic scintillator, in equivalent electron energy, to protons with energies up to 20 MeV have been fitted with the parameterization L(E) = A integral(0)(R) ln[+ alpha(dE/dx)](dx), where E is the initial particle energy, dE/dx is the specific energy loss, R is the particle range, and alpha is the only free parameter. The scaling factor A has been expressed in terms of alpha and the specific energy loss for a minimum ionizing particle, producing an absolute response curve. The best-fit value was determined to be alpha = (0.025+/-0.002) g cm(-2)MeV(-1) which gives a normalization of A = 41.0 MeV/(g/cm(2)). The results of the parameterization were compared with absolute response data for protons up to 150 MeV, and deuterons up to 120 MeV, with excellent agreement being observed.