Reduction of the permanent radiation induced absorption by illumination of plastic scintillators during γ-irradiation

Several pieces of the plastic scintillator SCSN-38 were exposed to γ-rays in air and were simultaneously illuminated with visible light. A comparison of illuminated and unilluminated samples showed that the permanent radiation induced absorption was smaller by a factor four when the samples were illuminated with blue light. A similar effect has been observed in clear polystyrene.