Scintillation Detectors

Aims:
• Plotting pulse height spectra of the radioactive sources 137Cs and
60
Co.
• Calibrating the scintillation counting system by plotting the
relation between channel number and photopeak energies for
137
Cs and 60Co.
• Plotting the relation between the energy resolution of the system
and photopeak energy.
 
Theory:

A “scintillator” is a material which atoms get excited upon

interaction with radiation (e.g. gamma-rays).
Components of scintillation counter:
NaI Crystal
Collimator
Photomultiplier Tube
- Photocathode
- Dynodes
- Anode
Amplifier
Pulse Height Analyzer
 Collimator

Scintillation
crystal

Photocathode
supply
High voltage power
Photomultiplier tube

Preamplifier

Amplifier

Pulse-height
Counter

analyzer
and/or display
Mechanisms Contributing to Production of Scintillation:
1)Photoelectric effect

2)Compton scattering

3)Pair production
 137Cs Spectrum Photopeak 662 keV

Count
Backscattering
peak
Compton Compton
Plateau edge
Compton
trough

Energy (keV)
 137Cs Spectrum Photopeak 662 keV

Count

Backscattering
peak
Compton Compton
Plateau edge
Compton
trough

Energy (keV)

Energy resolution of a Scintillation detector:

The ability of a scintillation counting system to distinguish two gamma
ray radioisotopes with similar energies is called “energy resolution”.
R = [ΔE / E (photopeak)] x 100 i.e. R = [ (E2 – E1) / E ] x 100

E: Photopeak 662 keV

Count

E1 E2
Energy (keV)
Procedure:
• Connect the various units of the scintillation counter system and
adjust the high voltage at the operating value.
• Place a gamma source (Cs-137) in front of the scintillation
detector.Start changing the value of the baseline (channel number)
button, and record the corresponding count each time. Repeat the
same step for Co-60 gamma source.
• Draw the gamma spectrum of both radioisotopes. This is a plot of
the baseline (channel number) values on the x– axis, and the
corresponding counts (count rates) on the y– axis.
• Draw the “Energy Calibration” curve which is a plot of the
channel number (of the photopeak) versus the energy of
photopeak.
• Draw the “Energy Resolution” curve, which is a plot of the energy
of the photopeak on x-axis versus the resolution of the photopeak
on y-axis.
Thanks for Your Attention