  Semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) are light emitters with high
quantum yield that are relatively easy to manufacture. There is therefore much
interest in their possible application for the development of high-performance
scintillators for use in high-energy physics. However, few previous studies
have focused on the response of these materials to high-energy particles. To
evaluate the potential for the use of nanocomposite scintillators in
calorimetry, we are performing side-by-side tests of fine-sampling shashlyk
calorimeter prototypes with both conventional and nanocomposite scintillators
using electron and minimum-ionizing particle beams, allowing direct comparison
of the performance obtained.
