BACKSCATTERING AND NOISE IN A SCINTILLATION DETECTOR FOR A BETA-RAY SPECTROMETER

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Nucl. Instr. Methods

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-554X(63)90241-6· OSTI ID:4688154

Paul, H; Hofmann, I

A scintillation detector for a Siegbahn-Slatis beta-ray spectrometer is described. The contributions to the background pulse spectrum due to photomultiplier, light guide, and scintillator are shown; the phomultiplier contribution can be minimized by proper choice of the focusing potential. Data are given on the non-linear energy response of the plastic scintillator. The pulse height distribution due to the backscattering of monoenergetic electrons from the scintillator was found to decrease toward small pulse height. The use of hollow detectors is shown to give a considerable reduction of counting losses due to backscattering. Curves are given from which the backscattering correction for a hollow detector can be read for various energies and discrimination levels. The backscattering correction per unit pulse height in the limit of zero discrimination level is given for various detector shapes and energies and compared to the values found by others. An attempt to derive this correction theoretically gives qualitative agreement with experiment. (auth)

• Research Organization: Austrian Research Assn. for Atomic Energy, Inc., Seibersdorf
• NSA Number: NSA-17-023782
• OSTI ID: 4688154
• Journal Information: Nucl. Instr. Methods, Journal Name: Nucl. Instr. Methods Vol. Vol: 22
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BACKGROUND
BACKSCATTERING
BETA SPECTROMETERS
ELECTRONS
ENERGY
INSTRUMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION
LIGHT
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PULSES
SCATTERING
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS