Measurements of deuteron and proton response functions of deuterated-cyclohexane and cyclohexane scintillators

The deuteron and proton response functions of deuterated-cyclohexane (C6D12) and cyclohexane (C6H12) scintillators have been measured using a 241Am-Be neutron source. The deuteron response function of the C6D12 scintillator was measured at seven energies over the range 2.201–4.164 MeV whereas the proton response function of the C6H12 scintillator was measured at nine energies over the range 3.093–5.307 MeV. Within the experimental uncertainties, the measured deuteron response function of the C6D12 scintillator agrees with the published data. The proton response function of the C6D12 scintillator, which was derived from deuteron and proton response function data of the C6D12 and C6H12 scintillators, is given by: Ep = 0.017 + 0.881 Ed − 0.011 Ed2 (Ep and Ed in MeV). The proton and deuteron light output ratio of the C6D12 scintillator at 0.1–6.5 MeV energies was found to be 0.53–0.51. The light output ratio is in good agreement with the published value of 0.5 for a typical deuterated scintillator.