What is Classification of Radiation Detectors – Types of Radiation Detectors – Definition

Purpose of Radiation Detectors

There are three main types of detectors, which record different types of signals.

• Counter. The activity or intensity of radiation is measured in counts per second (cps). The best known counter is the Geiger-Müller counter. In radiation counters the generated signal from the incident radiation is created by the counting of the number of interactions occurring at the sensitive volume of the detector.
• Radiation Spectrometer. Spectrometers are devices designed to measure the spectral power distribution of a source. The incident radiation generates a signal that allows to determine the energy of the incident particle.
• Dosimeter. A radiation dosimeter is a device that measures exposure to ionizing radiation. Dosimeters usually record a dose, which is the absorbed radiation energy measured in grays (Gy) of the equivalent dose measured in sieverts (Sv) A personal dosimeter is dosimeter, that is worn at the surface of the body by the person being monitored, and it  records of the radiation dose received.

All these types of equipment require that the radiations result in observable changes in a compound (whether gas, liquid or solid). In their basic principles of operation, most detectors of ionizing radiation follow similar characteristics. Detectors of ionizing radiation consist of two parts that are usually connected. The first part consists of a sensitive material, consisting of a compound that experiences changes when exposed to radiation. The other component is a device that converts these changes into measurable signals. All detectors require that radiation must deposit some of its energy in sensitive material that forms part of the instrument. The radiation enters the detector, interacts with atoms of the detector material and deposits some energy to sensitive material. Each event may generate a signal, which can be a pulse, hole, light signal, ion pairs in a gas, and many others. The main task is to generate sufficient signal, amplify it and to record it.

Classification by Sensitive Material

We focus on the first part, which consists of a sensitive material. Detectors may be categorized according to sensitive materials and methods that can be utilized to make a measurement:

• Gaseous Ionization Detectors
• Scintillation Detectors
• Semiconductor Detectors
• Film Badges
• TLD

Let assume gaseous ionization detectors. Basic gaseous ionization detector consists of a chamber that is filled with a suitable medium (air or a special fill gas) that can be easily ionized. As a general rule, the center wire is the positive electrode (anode) and the outer cylinder is the negative electrode (cathode), so that (negative) electrons are attracted to the center wire and positive ions are attracted to the outer cylinder. The anode is at a positive voltage with respect to the detector wall. As ionizing radiation enters the gas between the electrodes, a finite number of ion-pairs are formed. Under the influence of the electric field, the positive ions will move toward the negatively charged electrode (outer cylinder), and the negative ions (electrons) will migrate toward the positive electrode (central wire). The collection of these ions will produce a charge on the electrodes and an electrical pulse across the detection circuit. However it is a small signal, this signal can be amplified, and then recorded using standard electronics.

Classification of Radiation Detectors – Radiation Type

Principles and methods for detection of ionizing radiation are dependent on many factors. Type of radiation measured and detected is a key factor, and different types of detectors in different physical states (solid, liquid or gas) are used to measure selective types of ionizing radiation. It is important to distinguish between alpha or beta particles, X-rays or γ-rays and neutrons. Since each radiation interacts differently with matter, we cannot use, for example, neutron detector to detect beta radiation. Sometimes, detectors can detect various types of radiation, for example, neutron detectors are also able to detect gamma radiation. Usually, this feature is not desirable, and detectors must compensate the undesirable component of radiation.

In order to describe the classification of radiation detectors by the type of radiation, we have to understand the interactions of radiation with matter. Each type particle interacts in a different way, therefore we must describe interaction of particles (radiation as a flow of these particles) separately. For example charged particles with high energies can directly ionize atoms. On the other hand electrically neutral particles interacts only indirectly, but can also transfer some or all of their energies to the matter. This is the key feature of the categorization of radiation detectors. Simply, we cannot use a gamma rays detector to detect alpha radiation. Detectors can be categorized into two general types as follows:

• Detection of Directly Ionizing Radiation
  • Alpha radiation
  • Beta radiation
• Detection of Indirectly Ionizing Radiation
  • Gamma radiation
  • Neutron radiation
  • Neutrinos

See also:

Radiation Detection