Defining multiple decay components for ZnS(Ag) in Geant4

_Geant4 Version:_v11.2.2
_Operating System:_Windows 10
_Compiler/Version:_MSVC (Visual Studio)
_CMake Version:_3.30

Question on determination of 4 components of light emission time for ZnS(Ag) scintillator in Geant4.

Hi everyone!

We are working with inorganic ZnS(Ag) scintillators with neutron capturing additives (Li, B).
If you look at articles about scintillators, you will notice that the amount of components of light emission is different. For example, in the article “Study of luminescence and scintillation properties of ZnS-Ag/⁶LiF scintillator in the temperature range 7-295 K” by V.B. Mikhailik, S. Henry, M. Horn, H. Kraus, A. Lynch, M. Pipe, the parameters of ZnS(Ag)/⁶LiF decay kinetics were fitted using three exponential functions. Similarly, in “Investigation of the response of the ZnS(Ag)/LiF thermal neutron detector using digital pulse processing” by F. Pino, L. Stevanato, D. Chester, G. Nebbia, L. Saggio-Bohus, and G. Viesti, three decay components were determined for neutron-induced signals. In addition, in the paper Carel W.E. van Eijk “Development of Inorganic Scintillators” three decay time components were also observed for some inorganic scintillators such as LiBaF₃.
As for our studies, we observe up to four light emission components for neutron events.

When specifying the scintillator properties in Geant4 in the DetectorConstruction.cc file, only two components (fast and slow) for the light emission time can be defined. We would like to know if four components for light emission time can be defined in Geant4, and if so, how can this be implemented? Is there any way to add additional components for more accurate simulation?

Any tips or examples will be appreciated!

Thank you in advance for your help.

You are running Geant4 version 11.2.2, so you can have up to three components, but not four. You could ask the developers if they are willing to include a fourth component in an upcoming release. If enough people want it, they might be able to squeeze it in. A fourth component would have been useful for some work I was doing a while ago.