Demonstration and evaluation of solid state photomultiplier tube for uranium exploration instrumentation. National uranium resources evaluation. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6726896· OSTI ID:6726896

Polichar, R. M.

The purpose of this program has been to evaluate the recently developed solid state photomultiplier tube (SSPMT) technology as a potential improvment to future uranium exploration instrumentation. To this end, six SSPMTs have been constructed and evaluated in a manner similar to that of conventional phototubes. Special regard has been placed on the measurement of pulse height resolution and the factors that affect it in tube design and manufacture. The tubes were subjected to a number of tests similar to those performed on conventional photomultiplier tubes. The results indicate that good, high-resolution spectra can be obtained from the tubes and that they behave generally in a predictable manner. They exhibited a linear gain increase with applied potential. They show only slight dependence of performance with applied potential. Their sensitivity is, for the most part, uniform and predictable. However, several characteristics were found that were not predictable. These include a general drop in measured quantum efficiency, a worsening resolution with operation, and a bump in the sensitivity curve corresponding to the shape of the projected dimension of the anode. The SSPMT remains an attractive new technology in gamma-ray spectroscopy, and promises to make significant improvements in the area of uranium exploration instrumentation. 16 figures, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Science Applications, Inc., San Diego, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC13-76GJ01664
• OSTI ID: 6726896
• Report Number(s): GJBX-224-82; ON: DE83002473
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
DESIGN
FABRICATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
URANIUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
AMPLIFIERS
PHOTOTUBES
POWER SUPPLIES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
TESTING
050200* - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)
440101 - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments