Characterization of light yield non-proportionality in plastic scintillator-based detectors for satellite cosmic-ray experiments

While evaluating the performances of plastic scintillator-based instruments for space applications, through dedicated beam test campaigns carried out at CERN SPS, we probed non-proportionality effects within plastic scintillators by inspecting the response of scintillator tiles of different materials and sizes to a beam of ions. In this contribution, we present the main results of the characterization of plastic scintillators quenching effects resulting from a wide range of particle energy releases, from minimum ionizing particles (MIPs) to charged nuclei heavier than iron. These effects impact on the charged nuclei identification performances of current and future space-based high-energy cosmic-ray experiments.