Impact of Thickness and Composition on YAG:Ce Composite Scintillators for Alpha Particle Detectors

This study evaluates the performance of imaging-based alpha particle detectors using YAG:Ce composite scintillators in mixed radiation fields. Scintillators with varying thicknesses (0.1 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.0 mm) and YAG:Ce to epoxy ratios (5%, 15%, and 20%) were modeled using the GEANT4 simulation package to analyze the detection efficiency, light output, and energy resolution of the alpha particle detectors. The results indicate that a 0.5 mm thick scintillator with 90% YAG:Ce and 10% epoxy is the optimal configuration among the simulated scintillators for an alpha particle detector. Additionally, phantom-based simulations demonstrated that the detector is capable of producing clear imaging of alpha particles.