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Title: Multianode cylindrical proportional counter for high count rates

Abstract

A cylindrical, multiple-anode proportional counter is provided for counting of low-energy photons (<60 keV) at count rates of greater than 10.sup.5 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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Madison, WI
  2. Oak Ridge, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
863986
Patent Number(s):
4289967
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
multianode; cylindrical; proportional; counter; count; rates; multiple-anode; provided; counting; low-energy; photons; 60; kev; 10; counts; gas-filled; cylinder; forming; outer; cathode; central; coaxially; disposed; inner; plurality; anode; wires; array; coaxial; alignment; cathodes; form; virtual; configuration; improves; electron; drift; velocity; providing; uniform; field; strength; throughout; gas; volume; decreasing; collection; time; following; detection; ionizing; event; avoids; pulse; pile-up; coincidence; losses; conventional; position; encoding; circuitry; employed; extract; spatial; information; anodes; coaxially disposed; axial alignment; cylindrical anode; time following; wires disposed; proportional counter; gas volume; field strength; detection circuitry; anode wire; count rate; count rates; pulse pile-up; spatial information; coaxial alignment; drift velocity; detection circuit; uniform field; energy photon; energy photons; anode wires; ionizing event; cylindrical array; /250/313/

Citation Formats

Hanson, James A, and Kopp, Manfred K. Multianode cylindrical proportional counter for high count rates. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
Hanson, James A, & Kopp, Manfred K. Multianode cylindrical proportional counter for high count rates. United States.
Hanson, James A, and Kopp, Manfred K. Thu . "Multianode cylindrical proportional counter for high count rates". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863986.
@article{osti_863986,
title = {Multianode cylindrical proportional counter for high count rates},
author = {Hanson, James A and Kopp, Manfred K},
abstractNote = {A cylindrical, multiple-anode proportional counter is provided for counting of low-energy photons (<60 keV) at count rates of greater than 10.sup.5 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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1981},
month = {1}
}