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Use of Photocell Readouts in the Development of High Resolution Scintillator Systems

Conference ·
OSTI ID:917564
Photomultiplier-based scintillator spectrometers are the systems of choice for a multitude of X-ray and gamma radiation measurement applications. Despite widespread use, they have numerous shortcomings. The most serious is the relatively poor energy resolution that makes isotope identification problematic particularly in the case of trace quantities. Energy resolution in scintillator/photomultiplier tube (PMT) spectrometers is governed by a combination of the crystal intrinsic resolution that includes non-linearity effects, photomultiplier statistics, and the variability in the probability of a scintillation photon generating a photoelectron at the photocathode. It is evident that energy resolution in these systems is linked to both the physics of light generation in the scintillator, as well as the characteristics of the PMT. PMTs also present design problems especially in the case of handheld and portable instruments due to their considerable weight and volume. Additionally, PMTs require well-regulated high voltage and are vulnerable to magnetic fields.
Research Organization:
National Security Technologies, LLC
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE - National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25946
OSTI ID:
917564
Report Number(s):
DOE/NV/25946--192
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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