Photon detection

In the x-ray portion of the spectmm, scientific CCDs have been utilized as imaging spectrometers for astronomical mapping of the sun (45), galactic diffuse x-ray background (46), and other x-ray sources. Additionally, scientific CCDs designed for x-ray detection are also used in the fields of x-ray diffraction, materials analysis, medicine, and dentistry. CCD focal planes designed for infrared photon detection have also been demonstrated in InSb (47) and HgCdTe (48) but are not available commercially. 

P. W. Kmse, "The Photon Detection Process," in R. J. Keyes, ed.. Topics in Applied Physics, Optical and Infrared Detectors, Springer-Vedag, New York, 1980. 

Although performance varies with the isotopes for which they are intended, and with the balance in the design between resolution and efficiency, the overall sensitivity of a y-camera collimator is on the order of 5000 counts/(MBqmin) (several hundred counts/(/iCi-min)). In terms of photons detected per photon emitted, this is equivalent to about 2 x lO ". In other words, about two photons out of 10,000 emitted arrives at the crystal. This necessitates exposure times that range from several minutes to the better part of an hour. Fortunately, the large number of photons available from a modest injected radioactive dose more than offsets the poor detector sensitivity. The camera s abiUty to resolve small objects, however, is ultimately limited by the collimator inefficiency. 

Area Detectors. A two-dimensional or area detector attached to a powder diffractometer can gready decrease data collection time. Many diffraction appHcations require so much time with a conventional detector that they are only feasible if an area detector is attached to the iastmment. The Siemens General Area Detector Diffraction System (GADDS) uses a multiwire area detector (Fig. 17). This detector measures an x- and ajy-position for each x-ray photon detected. The appHcations foUow. 

Edited by H. Bubert and H. Jenett Copyright 2002 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH 4 Photon Detection ISBNs 3-527-30458-4 (Hardback) 3-527-60016-7 (Electronic)... 

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