High-Efficiency WLS Plastic: Enhancing Compact Cherenkov-Based Velocity Measurements

Cherenkov radiation, produced when a charged particle propagates faster than the phase velocity of light within a dielectric medium, represents a well-established tool for particle identification. The number of Cherenkov visible photons is nevertheless modest, usually on the order of 100-200 per centimeter of track length in common media such as glass, water, or plastic. In the present work we examine the optical behavior of FB118, a Wavelength Shifting (WLS) plastic manufactured by Glass to Power, when it is exposed to ionizing particles. Our observations clearly show that FB118 exhibits no residual scintillation, thus permitting an unambiguous identification of Cherenkov emission. Furthermore, thanks to its intrinsic WLS characteristics, the material increases of a factor $\times 10$ the collection of photons in the visible spectrum. Taken together, these properties suggest that FB118 is a strong candidate for compact Cherenkov detector designs, especially in astroparticle physics applications where limitations in space and power call for efficient and miniaturized solutions.