Radiation DetectorsRADIATION DETECTION TERMINOLOGYRADIATION DETECTION TERMINOLOGYUnderstanding how radiation detection occurs requires a working knowledge ofbasic terminology.EO 1.1 DEFINE the following radiation detection terms:a. Electron-ion pairb. Specific ionizationc. Stopping powerEO 1.2 EXPLAIN the relationship between stopping power andspecific ionization.Electron-IonPairIonization is the process of removing one or more electrons from a neutral atom. This resultsin the loss of units of negative charge by the affected atom. The atom becomes electricallypositive (a positive ion). The products of a single ionizing event are called an electron-ion pair.SpecificIonizationSpecific ionization is that number of ion pairs produced per centimeter of travel through matter.Equation 6-1 expresses this relationship.(6-1)Specific Ionizationion pairs producedpath lengthSpecific ionization is dependent on the mass, charge, energy of the particle, and the electrondensity of matter. The greater the mass of a particle, the more interactions it produces in a givendistance. A larger number of interactions results in the production of more ion pairs and ahigher specific ionization.A particle’s charge has the greatest effect on specific ionization. A higher charge increases thenumber of interactions which occur in a given distance. Increasing the number of interactionsproduces 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 distancetraveled. 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 themagnet. Notice that the slower the magnet is passed over the pile of paper clips, the moreRev. 0 Page 1 IC-06
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