Characterizations of BC501A and BC537 liquid scintillator detectors

Two 2″×2″ liquid scintillator detectors BC537 and BC501A have been characterized for their responses and efficiencies to γ-ray detection. Light output resolution and response functions were derived by least-squares minimization of a simulated response function, fitted to experimental data. The γ-ray response matrix and detection efficiency were simulated with Monte Carlo (MC) methods and validated. For photon energies below 2.4 MeVee, the resolution, as well as the efficiency, of BC501A is better than BC537 scintillator. The situation is reversed when the energy is higher than 2.4 MeVee. BC537 has higher γ-ray detection efficiency than BC501A if the impinging photon energy is more than 2 MeV due to different ratios of C to H/D atoms. - Highlights: • Light output resolution function of BC501A and BC537 detectors were derived. • The γ-ray response matrices of two scintillator detector were simulated and validated. • The γ-ray efficiency was simulated for four different energy thresholds below 7 MeV. • A comparative study of detectors performance in different disciplines was performed