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Published November 1, 1990 | Published
Book Section - Chapter Open

Performance optimization for hard x-ray/soft γ-ray detectors

Abstract

This paper discusses the optimization of the performance of imaging scintillation detectors used in the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray (20-300) keV region of the spectrum. In these devices, absorption of an incident gamma-ray within an alkali halide crystal induces a scintillation light distribution which is centroided by an imaging photomultiplier tube mounted to the crystal. The ultimate imaging resolution is strongly affected by the detailed propagation of the scintillation light within the crystal and at the interface between the crystal and the phototube face plate. A number of refined techniques for preparing the scintillation crystals so as to optimize the imaging resolution have been investigated. The results indicate very good agreement with relatively simple models of the light propagation. It is shown that it is possible to achieve resolution consistent with the most optimistic models.

Additional Information

© 1990 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). The authors wish to thank Baruch Fuchs of the LLNL optics shop for assistance in preparing the scintillation crystals. This research was performed in part under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract number W-7405-ENG-48, and was partially supported by a grant from the NASA Gamma-Ray Astrophysics and Analysis Program. FAH is supported by a NASA Graduate Student Research Fellowship.

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