Abstract
Abstract— Cherenkov detectors are widely used for particle
identification and threshold detectors in high-energy physics.
Glass Cherenkov detectors that are sensitive to beta emissions
originating from neutron activation have been demonstrated
recently as a potential replacement for activation foils. In this
work, we set the groundwork to evaluate large Cherenkov glass
detectors for sensitivity to MeV photons through first
understanding the measured response of small Cherenkov glass
detectors to isotopic gamma-ray sources. Counting and pulse
height measurements are acquired with reflected glass
Cherenkov detectors read out with a photomultiplier tube.
Simulation was used to inform our understanding of the
measured results. This simulation included radioactive source
decay, radiation interaction, Cherenkov light generation, optical
ray tracing, and photoelectron production. Implications for the
use of Cherenkov glass detectors to measure low energy gammaray
response are discussed.
