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MEASUREMENT OF IONIZING RADIATION. Measurement of Ionizing Radiation. Objectives Familiarization with Detection Mechanisms Identify the Correct Instrument for the Job. Detection Mechanisms. Gas Filled Detectors Scintillation Semiconductor. Gas Ionization Regions.
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Measurement of Ionizing Radiation • Objectives • Familiarization with Detection Mechanisms • Identify the Correct Instrument for the Job
Detection Mechanisms • Gas Filled Detectors • Scintillation • Semiconductor
Gas Ionization Regions • Pulse Amplitude vs. Applied Voltage • Ion Saturation • Proportional/Limited Proportional • Geiger-Mueller
Pulse Amplitude vs. Applied Voltage GM Ion Proportional
Ion Saturation Detectors • Common Detectors • Pocket Dosimeter • Ion Chamber • Pressurized Ion Chamber
Pocket Dosimeter • Uses Charge Integration • Exposure Readout With Quartz Fiber Electroscope • Gamma/X-ray Only • Inexpensive • Poor Accuracy
Ion Chamber • Directly Quantifies Exposure Rate • Linear Energy Response • Gamma/X-ray/Beta(with window)
Pressurized Ion Chamber • Extremely Sensitive • Gamma/X-ray • High Background • Can be Expensive
Proportional Region Detectors • Common Detector • Gas Flow Proportional Counter
Gas Flow Proportional Counter • Can Integrate Source and Gas • Spectroscopy • Alpha/Beta/Low-Energy Gamma/X-ray • Can be Expensive
Geiger-Mueller Region Detectors • Common Detector • Geiger Tube/G-M Counter
Geiger Tube • Pulse Amplitude Does Not Vary With Initiating Event • Output is Normally CPM • Non-Linear Energy Response • Can be Calibrated in Exposure Units • Alpha/Beta/Gamma/X-ray Depending on Window and Fill Gas
Scintillation • Visible Light Produced After Excitation of a Substance • A Good Scintillator Converts a Large Fraction of Incident Radiation Energy Into Prompt Fluorescence
Scintillation • Zinc Sulfide used for alpha • Plastics and liquids used for Beta • Organic and inorganic crystals for x and gamma • Liquids used for all currently
Scintillation Detectors • Common Detectors • Solid Scintillator • Sodium Iodide, NaI • Thin Crystal NaI • Plastic • Liquid Scintillation Counter
Solid Scintillation Detectors • Thick Crystal Sodium Iodide • Extremely Sensitive • Used for Quantification and Identification • Gamma/High-Energy X-ray Only • Expensive • Poor Resolution
Solid Scintillation Detectors • Thin Crystal Sodium Iodide • Good Sensitivity at Low-Energies • Low-Energy Gamma/X-ray Only • Highly Energy Dependent • High Background
Solid Scintillation Detectors • Plastic Scintillator • Can be made into a Large-Volume Detector • Alpha/Beta/Gamma • Inexpensive • Low Light Output/Self-absorption a Problem
Liquid Scintillation Counting • Sample Integrated With Scintillator • Can be Highly Efficient • Widely Used for Low-Energy Beta Counting • Alpha/Beta • Quenching a Problem
Semiconductors • Electron-hole Pairs Created in a Semiconductor by a Charged Particle Generate the Signal
Solid-State Detectors • Common Detectors • Silicon Diode • Lithium Drifted Silicon • High Purity Germanium
Silicon Diode • Charged Particle Spectroscopy • Superior Energy Resolution • Alpha/Heavy Ions • Limited to Small Sizes • Susceptible to Performance Degradation
Lithium Drifted Silicon • Low-Energy Photon Spectroscopy • Beta/Electron Detection and Spectroscopy • Superior Energy Resolution • Low-Energy Gamma/X-ray/Beta/Electrons • Must be Cooled With Liquid Nitrogen • Susceptible to Performance Degradation
High Purity Germanium Detector • Gamma Ray Spectroscopy • Superior Energy Resolution • Gamma • Must be Cooled with Liquid Nitrogen • Susceptible to Performance Degradation