Multianode cylindrical proportional counter for high count rates

Patent · Tue Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6305546

Hanson, J A; Kopp, M K

A cylindrical, multiple-anode proportional counter is provided for counting of low-energy photons (<60 kev) at count rates of greater than 105 counts/sec. A gas-filled proportional counter cylinder forming an outer cathode is provided with a central coaxially disposed inner cathode and a plurality of anode wires disposed in a cylindrical array in coaxial alignment with and between the inner and outer cathodes to form a virtual cylindrical anode coaxial with the inner and outer cathodes. The virtual cylindrical anode configuration improves the electron drift velocity by providing a more uniform field strength throughout the counter gas volume, thus decreasing the electron collection time following the detection of an ionizing event. This avoids pulse pile-up and coincidence losses at these high count rates. Conventional rc position encoding detection circuitry may be employed to extract the spatial information from the counter anodes.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4289967
• OSTI ID: 6305546
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors &amp; Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COUNTING RATES
DESIGN
DETECTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DRIFT
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MULTIWIRE PROPORTIONAL CHAMBERS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
PULSE PILEUP
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
X RADIATION
X-RAY DETECTION