The Response of Inorganic Scintillators

Photons. The response of Nal(Tl) to gammas is linear, except for energies below 400 keV, where a slight nonlinearity is present. Experimental results are shown in Fig. 6.8. More details about the Nal(Tl) response to gammas are given in Chap. 12. 

Charged particles. For protons and deuterons, the response of the scintillator is proportional to the particle energy, at least for 1 MeV. For alpha particles, the proportionality begins at about 15 MeV (Fig. 6.9). Theoretical aspects of the response have been studied extensively. Today, inorganic scintillators are seldom used for detection of charged particles. 

Neutrons. Because neutrons are detected indirectly through charged particles produced as a result of nuclear reactions, to find the response to neutrons, one 

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