Luminescence degrading in polyvinyltoluene by ion beam irradiations

Polyvinyltoluene is an organic polymer based on a structure of benzenic rin gs bonded to methylic and vinylic groups. This molecular structure has pecu liar luminescent properties in the visible and near ultraviolet wavelength range. The fluorescence induced by photons is investigated as a function of the polymer irradiation with keV-MeV ion beams. Because the luminescence yield is proportional to the radiation energy rele ased by the incident ions to the polymer, these organic materials are emplo yed as scintillators to detect energetic particle in nuclear physics. A significant damage induced by radiation at high stopping power reduces th e luminescence yield and degrades the polymer properties. The radiation dam age increases with the stopping power of the incident particles. A luminesc ence yield reduction of about 90% is obtained with an absorbed ion dose of the order of 10(14)/cm(2).