Optimised mounting conditions for poly (ether sulfone) in radiation detection

• Mounting conditions for PES in radiation detection are optimised.
• Optical coupling, surface treatment, and background sources are discussed.
• Absorption by optical grease of short-wavelength light emitted from PES was negligible.
• Despite the high effective refractive index for PES, light yield was increased by surface roughness.
• Radiation background from the PES plate itself was not above the ambient level.

Poly (ether sulfone) (PES) is a candidate for use as a scintillation material in radiation detection. Its characteristics, such as its emission spectrum and its effective refractive index (based on the emission spectrum), directly affect the propagation of light generated to external photodetectors. It is also important to examine the presence of background radiation sources in manufactured PES. Here, we optimise the optical coupling and surface treatment of the PES, and characterise its background. Optical grease was used to enhance the optical coupling between the PES and the photodetector; absorption by the grease of short-wavelength light emitted from PES was negligible. Diffuse reflection induced by surface roughening increased the light yield for PES, despite the high effective refractive index. Background radiation derived from the PES sample and its impurities was negligible above the ambient, natural level. Overall, these results serve to optimise the mounting conditions for PES in radiation detection.