RADIATION RESISTANT SCINTILLATING PLASTIC FIBERS

THE LARGE DETECTORS AT THE SUPER COLLIDER (SSC) WILL REQUIRESCINTILLATING AND WAVELENGTH SHIFTING PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBERS. BECAUSE OF THE 100 TO 1000 HIGHER INTENSITY AT THE SSC, THE AMBIENT RADIATION LEVELS ARE MUCH GREATER THAN PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED AT ATOM SMASHERS. EXISTING FIBERS BASED ON POLYSTYRENE AS THE CORE PLASTIC TEND TO DEGRADE IN THE HIGH RADIATION FIELDS. THIS RESEARCH WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING FIBERS BASED ON POLYSILOXANE WHICH WILL BE MUCH MORE RESISTANT TO THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OFRADIATION. THIS WORK IS NOVEL BECAUSE AN ELASTOMER WILL BE USED FOR THECORE OF THE FIBER AND A UNIQUE BLEND OF COPOLYMER FOR THE CLADDING, NEITHER OF WHICH HAVE EVER BEFORE BEEN USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF RADIATION RESISTANT OPTICAL FIBERS. BASEDON THE EXISTING DATA THESE NEW FIBERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE STABLE IN RESPONSE UP TO ABOUT 10 MEGARADS.