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In the effort of the AugerPrime scintillator surface detector R&D activity, we investigated the performances of different extruded and cast plastic scintillators that were read out with wavelength-shifting (WLS) optical fibers and then coupled to a PMT. In particular we compared the light yield of eighteen scintillator/fiber configurations, obtained combining eight different scintillator bars with six fiber types, in order to investigate which was satisfying the AugerPrime specifications in terms of light production ( > 12 photoelectrons per minimum ionizing particle). In this paper, we present the results of the study on different scintillator bar geometries, scintillator production techniques, and wavelength-shifting optical fiber types. We also propose an effective way to optically couple the fibers to the PMT entrance window.

International audience; The Central Neutron Detector, a recently constructed scintillator barrel which is used in CLAS12 at Jefferson Lab to detect 0.2–1 GeV neutrons at backwards angles, is here described. The motivations and R&D; tests leading to its final design, based on three radial layers of coupled paddles with one-side light readout by photomultipliers plus “U-turn” lightguides on the other side, are outlined. The performance of the detector, evaluated from cosmic-ray tests and simulations, which satisfies the physics requirements, is reported.