RESEARCH ON USING GEANT4 SIMULATION TOOLKIT FOR PLASTIC SCINTILLATOR DETECTOR

Abstract

To detect hidden radioactive materials inside cars, trucks, and containers, it is necessary to manufacture devices capable of detecting radioactive and nuclear materials for installation at checkpoints, ports, and borders. The first-generation devices were equipped with NaI scintillation detectors to detect radioactive materials. Multiple large-volume NaI detectors were used in these devices to reduce measurement time and increase the ability to detect shielded or distant sources. However, systems equipped with such detectors are expensive. The use of plastic scintillation detectors not only reduces the cost of the equipment but also improves sensitivity, enhancing the detection capability. To design and manufacture plastic scintillation detectors with appropriate specifications as required by the project, simulation is necessary for evaluation and selection of a suitable detector configuration. Therefore, the authors explored various simulation programs like Geant4 to simulate the detector configuration for radiation source detection devices. This paper presents some simulation results from Geant4 for plastic scintillation detector systems.