Szintillationszähler

Szintillationszähler, or scintillation counter, is a radiation detector that measures ionizing radiation by converting energy deposited in a scintillating material into light, which is then converted into an electrical signal by a photodetector.

A typical scintillation detector consists of a scintillator, a photodetector, and signal-processing electronics. The scintillator can be an inorganic crystal (for example NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl), or LSO/Cs) or an organic material (plastic or liquid). When ionizing radiation interacts with the scintillator, it produces photons of light. These photons are collected by a photodetector, most commonly a photomultiplier tube (PMT) or a solid-state device such as a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). The photodetector converts the light into an electrical pulse; the pulse height is related to the energy deposited, while the pulse rate corresponds to the radiation flux.

Scintillation detectors are used both for counting and for spectroscopy. In counting mode, the electronics register the number of detected events per unit time. For spectroscopy, pulse-height analysis is performed to determine the energy of the incident radiation. Scintillators vary widely in light yield, emission spectrum, and decay time, which influence energy and time resolution. Detector performance depends on material thickness, geometry, temperature, and shielding.

Common applications include gamma-ray and X-ray spectroscopy, medical imaging (such as PET), nuclear safety and environmental monitoring, and high-energy physics experiments. Trade-offs exist between cost, resolution, and efficiency, guiding material choice and detector design.