Innovative nanocrystal-based scintillators for next-generation sampling calorimeters

The design of next-generation calorimeters for accelerator-borne experiments at the intensity frontier poses unprecedented challenges with regard to timing performance and radiation resistance, while rivaling the current state of the art in terms of energy resolution. A significant role may be played by quantum dots, i.e., light-emitting semiconductor nanocrystals with high quantum yield and rather easy to manufacture. Quantum dots can be cast into an optically transparent polymer matrix to obtain nanocomposite scintillators, which are functionally similar to conventional plastic scintillators and can feature (100 ps) emission times and (1 MGy) radiation resistance. Moreover, they are rather economical, thus suiting large-volume applications. The NanoCal project is evaluating the potential for the use of perovskite-based nanocomposite scintillators in sampling calorimeters, which is nowadays yet to be extensively explored. We are performing comparative tests of innovative scintillators, both fully organic and nanocomposite, as standalone samples and integrated in fine-sampling shashlik calorimeter prototypes. Measurements are performed using both cosmic rays and electron and MIP beams in a wide energy range (at the CERN and INFN LNF beamtest facilities), allowing the performance gains obtained from the different scintillators to be directly characterised.