Introduction To Nuclear Radiation Detectors

There have been many interesting developments in the field of nuclear radiation detectors, especially in those using semiconduct ing materials. The purpose of this book is to present a survey of the developments in semiconductor detectors along with discus sions about gas counters and scintillation counters. These discus sions are directed to detector users, usually scientists and technicians in different fields such as chemistry, geology, bio chemistry, and medicine. The operation of these detectors is discussed in terms of basic properties, such as efficiency, energy resolution, and resolving time, which are defmed in the first chapter. Differences among these detectors in terms of these properties are pointed out. Chapter 2, on interaction of radiations with matter, discusses how different radiations lose energies in matter and how differences in their behavior in matter affect the design and operation of detectors. Although emphasis is placed on fundamentals throughout the book, the reader is also made aware of the new developments in the field of radiation quite often detection. The author has taught a course in radioisotopes for several years for science, engineering, medical, and dental students. The emphasis on topics varied from time to time to satisfy the varying interests of the students. However, the contents of this book formed the core of the course. About ten selected experiments on detectors were done along with this course (a list of these vii Preface viii experiments may be supplied on request).

Radiation Detection: Concepts, Methods, and Devices provides a modern overview of radiation detection devices and radiation measurement methods. The book topics have been selected on the basis of the authors’ many years of experience designing radiation detectors and teaching radiation detection and measurement in a classroom environment. This book is designed to give the reader more than a glimpse at radiation detection devices and a few packaged equations. Rather it seeks to provide an understanding that allows the reader to choose the appropriate detection technology for a particular application, to design detectors, and to competently perform radiation measurements. The authors describe assumptions used to derive frequently encountered equations used in radiation detection and measurement, thereby providing insight when and when not to apply the many approaches used in different aspects of radiation detection. Detailed in many of the chapters are specific aspects of radiation detectors, including comprehensive reviews of the historical development and current state of each topic. Such a review necessarily entails citations to many of the important discoveries, providing a resource to find quickly additional and more detailed information. This book generally has five main themes: Physics and Electrostatics needed to Design Radiation Detectors Properties and Design of Common Radiation Detectors Description and Modeling of the Different Types of Radiation Detectors Radiation Measurements and Subsequent Analysis Introductory Electronics Used for Radiation Detectors Topics covered include atomic and nuclear physics, radiation interactions, sources of radiation, and background radiation. Detector operation is addressed with chapters on radiation counting statistics, radiation source and detector effects, electrostatics for signal generation, solid-state and semiconductor physics, background radiations, and radiation counting and spectroscopy. Detectors for gamma-rays, charged-particles, and neutrons are detailed in chapters on gas-filled, scintillator, semiconductor, thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence, photographic film, and a variety of other detection devices.

This book is intended for senior undergraduate and beginning graduate students in physics, nuclear engineering, health physics and nuclear medicine, and for specialized training courses for radiation protection personnel and environmental safety engineers.To keep the size of the book manageable, material has been selected to stress those detectors that are in widespread use. Attempts have also been made to emphasize alternatives available in approaching various measurement problems and to present the criteria by which a choice among these alternatives may be made.

This 1986 book is an introduction to the then commonly used types of detectors of nuclear radiation. It was directed primarily at students taking a first course in which an understanding of such devices was required. The author opens with an introduction to the properties and characteristics of ionising radiations. The main body of text, however, comprises a description of the construction, operation and main applications of gas-filled, scintillation and semiconductor detectors. In addition, the principles of the main electronic processing modules and amplifiers are discussed. Finally, the book includes a description of instruments used for the measurement of doses and dose rates of ionising radiations, together with an introduction to dose units and permissible dose levels, which will make it of particular interest to health physicists and safety officers.

This 1986 book is an introduction to the then commonly used types of detectors of nuclear radiation. It was directed primarily at students taking a first course in which an understanding of such devices was required. The author opens with an introduction to the properties and characteristics of ionising radiations. The main body of text, however, comprises a description of the construction, operation and main applications of gas-filled, scintillation and semiconductor detectors. In addition, the principles of the main electronic processing modules and amplifiers are discussed. Finally, the book includes a description of instruments used for the measurement of doses and dose rates of ionising radiations, together with an introduction to dose units and permissible dose levels, which will make it of particular interest to health physicists and safety officers.

As useful to students and nuclear professionals as its popular predecessors, this fifth edition provides the most up-to-date and accessible introduction to radiation detector materials, systems, and applications. There have been many advances in the field of radiation detection, most notably in practical applications. Incorporating these important developments, Measurement and Detection of Radiation, Fifth Edition provides the most up-to-date and accessible introduction to radiation detector materials, systems, and applications. It also includes more problems and updated references and bibliographies, and step-by-step derivations and numerous examples illustrate key concepts. New to the Fifth Edition: • Expanded chapters on semiconductor detectors, data analysis methods, health physics fundamentals, and nuclear forensics. • Updated references and bibliographies. • New and expanded problems.