Radiation Detectors
RADIATION DETECTION TERMINOLOGY
RADIATION DETECTION TERMINOLOGY
Understanding how radiation detection occurs requires a working knowledge of
basic terminology.
EO 1.1
DEFINE the following radiation detection terms:
a.
Electron-ion pair
b.
Specific ionization
c.
Stopping power
EO 1.2
EXPLAIN the relationship between stopping power and
specific ionization.
Electron-Ion Pair
Ionization is the process of removing one or more electrons from a neutral atom. This results
in the loss of units of negative charge by the affected atom. The atom becomes electrically
positive (a positive ion). The products of a single ionizing event are called an electron-ion pair.
Specific Ionization
Specific ionization is that number of ion pairs produced per centimeter of travel through matter.
Equation 6-1 expresses this relationship.
(6-1)
Specific Ionization
ion pairs produced
path length
Specific ionization is dependent on the mass, charge, energy of the particle, and the electron
density of matter. The greater the mass of a particle, the more interactions it produces in a given
distance. A larger number of interactions results in the production of more ion pairs and a
higher specific ionization.
A particle’s charge has the greatest effect on specific ionization. A higher charge increases the
number of interactions which occur in a given distance. Increasing the number of interactions
produces more ion pairs, therefore increasing the specific ionization.
As the energy of a particle decreases, it produces more ion pairs for the same amount of distance
traveled. Think of the particle as a magnet. As a magnet is passed over a pile of paper clips,
the magnet attracts the clips. Maintain the same distance from the pile and vary the speed of the
magnet. Notice that the slower the magnet is passed over the pile of paper clips, the more
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