GEOMETRICAL EFFECTS IN CHARGED-PARTICLE DETECTION USING SCINTILLATION-COUNTERS

An algorithm is described which uses the Monte Carlo method to evaluat e the fraction of the light produced by charged particles in the bulk which reaches the scintillator's output face, by taking into account s urface and optical absorption. Local light production is estimated usi ng the model of Michaelian and Menchaca-Rocha (1994 Phys. Rev. B 49 15 550-62). These absorption mechanisms are shown to introduce range-depe ndent effects which are most important when the penetration of the par ticles is comparable with the depth of the scintillator.