Measurement of the dependence of the light yields of linear alkylbenzene-based and EJ-301 scintillators on electron energy

An experimental test of the electron energy scale linearities of SNO+ and EJ-301 scintillators was carried out using a Compton spectrometer with electrons in the energy range 0.09–3 MeV. The linearity of the apparatus was explicitly demonstrated. It was found that the response of both types of scintillators with respect to electrons becomes non-linear below ∼0.4MeV. An explanation is given in terms of Cherenkov light absorption and re-emission by the scintillators.