FNAL-NICADD extruded scintillator

The possibility to produce a scintillator that satisfies the demands of physicists from different science areas has emerged with the installation of an extrusion line at FNAL (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory). The extruder is the product of the fruitful collaboration between FNAL and NICADD NIU (Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development at Northern Illinois University). The results from light output, light attenuation length and mechanical tolerance indicate that FNAL-NICADD scintillator is of high quality. Improvements in the extrusion die will yield better scintillator profiles and decrease the time needed for initial tuning. This paper will present the characteristics of the FNAL-NICADD scintillator based on the measurements performed. They include the response to MIPs from cosmic rays for individual extruded strips and irradiation studies where extruded samples were irradiated up to 1 Mrad. We will also discuss the results achieved with a new die design. The attractive perspective of using the extruded scintillator with MRS (metal resistive semiconductor) photodetector readout will also be shown.