Phoswich detectors with DSP analysis for low-energy, low-activity photon measurements

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:678109

Pillai, S; Feng, J; Miller, W H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States)

Several new phoswich detector designs coupled with digital pulse shape discrimination systems are under development for a variety of radiological measurements. Herein the authors report on two detectors for measuring small activities (nanocurie amounts) of low photon energy (30 to 150 keV) from either isotopic decay or beta-produced bremsstrahlung radiation. The lower limit of detection (LLD), assuming a 60-s counting time, for a phoswich well detector is 0.7 Bq (0.02 nCi) of gamma activity in the 20- to 100-keV range and 11 Bq (0.3 nCi) and 550 (15 nCi) for gamma rays and beta bremsstrahlung X rays, respectively. It is envisioned that these detectors would be useful for biomedical applications or for other measurements requiring low-level, low-energy photon measurement.

• OSTI ID: 678109
• Report Number(s): CONF-990605--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 80; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
ACTIVITY LEVELS
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
GAMMA DETECTION
PULSE DISCRIMINATORS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
X-RAY DETECTION