Temperature dependence of the light yield of the LAB-based and mesitylene-based liquid scintillators

We studied the temperature dependence of the light yield of linear alkyl benzene(LAB)-based and mesitylene-based liquid scintillators. The light yield increases by 23% for both liquid scintillators when the temperature is lowered from 26 to-40, correcting for the temperature response of the photomultiplier tube. The measurements help to understand the energy response of liquid scintillator detectors. Especially, the next generation reactor neutrino experiments for neutrino mass hierarchy, such as the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory(JUNO), require very high energy resolution. As no apparent degradation on the liquid scintillator transparency was observed, lowering the operation temperature of the detector to ～4 will increase the photoelectron yield of the detector by 13%, combining the light yield increase of the liquid scintillator and the quantum efficiency increase of the photomultiplier tubes.     

Aging of LAB-based liquid scintillator in stainless steel containers

Types 316 and 304 stainless steel are two candidates for the storage vessels and piping systems of LAB-based liquid scintillator (LS) in the JUNO experiment. LS aging experiments are carried out at temperatures of 40℃ and 25℃. After 192 days aging at 40℃, the attenuation length of LS was reduced by 6% in a glass container, 12% in a type 304 stainless steel tank, and 10% in a type 316 stainless steel tank. At 25℃ in 304 and 316 stainless steel tanks, the attenuation length was reduced by 6% after 307 days. The light yield and the absorption spectrum were practically the same as that of the unaged sample. The concentration of element Fe in the LAB-based LS did not show a clear change. Type 316 and 304 stainless steel can be used as vessels and transportation pipeline material for LAB-based LS.