Range–energy relation, range straggling and response function of CsI(Tl), BGO and GSO(Ce) scintillators for light ions

Range–energy relations and range straggling of 1,2,3H and 4,6He isotopes with the energy ≈50A MeV are measured for the CsI(Tl), BGO and GSO(Ce) scintillators with an accuracy better than 0.2% and 5%, respectively. The Si-Sci/PD telescope was exposed to secondary beams from the mass separator ACCULINNA. The experimental technique is based on the registration of the “jump” in the amplitude of the photodiode signal for ions passing through the scintillation crystal. Light response of the scintillators for ions 1⩽Z⩽4 is measured in energy range (5–50)A MeV, the results are in good agreement with calculations based on Birks model. The energy loss straggling for particles with ΔE/E=0.01–0.50 and mass up to A=10 in 286 μm ΔE silicon detector is studied and compared with theoretical prescriptions. The results allow a precise absolute calibration of the scintillation crystal and to optimize the particle identification by the ΔE–E(Sci/PD) method.