Multianode cylindrical proportional counter for high count rates

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863986

Hanson, James A ^[1]; Kopp, Manfred K ^[2]

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1. Madison, WI
2. Oak Ridge, TN

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.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4289967
• OSTI ID: 863986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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
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