What is a scintillation counter?

Scintillation counter is a device used to detect and measure emissions from radioactive elements. Radioactivity is to release particles or energy from certain elements that contain too many neutrons and can be dangerous for humans, animals and plants. The scintillation counter combines a chemical that creates light when affected by radioactive emissions, and a detector that feels and calculates light pulses.

Many elements have isotopes, molecules that contain different numbers of neutrons with the same number of protons and electrons. Most isotopes are stable and over time nothing will change their chemical make -up. However, many radioactive isotopes will not hold neutrons in place and start to decompose radioactive.

There are three main types of radioactive disintegration and each has different properties. Alfa radiation is a particle combining protons and neutrons and has relatively low energy, allowing it to stop water or a thin metal plate. Beta radiation is high -energy electrons UVOlinked from the element and can penetrate body tissues and layers of protective shielding. Gamma radiation is not a particle, but rather an electromagnetic wave, similar to light, which has very high energy and can only be protected by layers of dense lead plate.

All three types cause damage to plant and animal cells because they cause molecules to change when they are hit by radiation. As radioactive particles or gamma radiation, it hits a molecule, releases electrons into the surrounding tissues or air. If the radiation hits a chemical that gives a flash of light and light can be detected, a scintillation counter was created.

There are three types of chemicals of solid scintillations called phosphors used in the shelves and include inorganic, organic and plastics. Inorganic chemicals that can release light, lled cafotons, when affected by radiation, include metal iodides and zinc sulphide. OrgAnical phosphors may include naphthalene, anthracen and other benzene compounds. Plastics themselves are not usually phosphors, but chemicals can be combined with plastic to form a photon generator.

Inorganic chemicals are the best gamma radiation detectors, organic substances are optimal for beta particles and phosphors based on plastic -based neutron detection. Radioactive isotopes can disintegrate using different methods, so detectors can contain more than one type of detection element. Counting the software used in the detectors is decisive for determining the amount of radiation, as higher numbers indicate that more radioactive element is present or the counter is close to radioactivity.

As soon as photons of light are created, the second important part is the detector that both sees and counts. Many counters use the photomultiplier, which is a range of MOUNTED electrodes in a vacuum tube. When the photon light enters the tube, it is usually too weak to to to detect electronic circuits in the scintillation counter. The photon hits the first electrode to use the electrical voltage on it.

When the light is hit, the electrode releases more electrons that travel to the second electrode. Every time this happens, more electrons are released and the signal will be stronger. After several steps that occur very quickly with electrons that travel at light speed, the signal is strong enough to detect it to the counter, and registers the presence of photon light and counts it. The photomultiplier is very sensitive and can accurately detect very small flashes of light from the decay.

Another type of scintillation counter is the liquid phase unit. These counters may be useful in laboratory analysis, as the sample is located directly in a liquid composed of phosphorus and solvent. Any radioactive emission detected immediately by phosphors surrounding the sample, which are then calculated.

This technology can be useful in decontamination of radioactive leakage, PRWipe tests can be used to check radioactivity. Small samples of the fabric are wiped over the surfaces and then placed in a liquid scintillation counter. This process can be repeated as needed until the counter shows radioactivity at low levels called background radiation.