Pulsed Proton Radioluminescence in Binary Liquid Scintillators

Time-resolved, emission spectroscopy provides a unique capability for investigation of rapid chemical reactions induced by densely ionizing radiation. Pulsed radiolysis with electrons has been used extensively to prove the subnanosecond time region. However, the application of this method to radiation with high linear energy transfer (LET) is limited by the requirement of large dose per pulse to achieve a significant absorption signal. Detection of chemical species through emission rather than absorption circumvents this difficulty. By the single photon counting method, a small population of excited states can be studied under varied radiation conditions with subnanosecond time resolution. The time evolution of nonradiative species can also be investigated through fluorescence quenching. The understanding of rapid chemical kinetics in simple liquids provides insight into the mechanisms of radiation damage in biological systems and its dependence on physical parameters of the irradiation.