Scintillation detectors

Abstract

The detection of scintillation light, which is generated when an ionising particle passes certain media or when radiation is absorbed, belongs to the oldest detection techniques. Scintillation detectors are read out electronically by employing the photon detectors described in a previous chapter. Scintillators are either made of organic or of inorganic materials (crystals) with essential differences of their properties and application field. For both scintillation mechanisms, the light yield and the time dependence of the signals are explained and the specific application areas pointed out. Typical assemblies of scintillation detectors are presented which include organic scintillators as trigger and timing counters, scintillating fibres for tracking and calorimetry and inorganic crystal arrangements for calorimetry.