detectorresponse

Detector response refers to how a detector translates an incident particle or radiation into a measurable signal. It encompasses the relation between input energy or interaction type and the observed signal, including statistical fluctuations and instrumental effects. The central object is the detector response function R(S|E), the probability that an input of energy E produces a recorded signal S. The response also includes detection efficiency ε(E) and the detector’s energy and time resolutions.

Signal formation is a chain: energy deposition in the detector material, production of light or charge, collection and amplification, and digitization. Each stage introduces fluctuations and possible nonlinearity. Consequently the response is influenced by material properties, geometry, electronics, and operating conditions.

Calibration and characterization determine the response, using known sources or well-understood processes to establish the energy scale, linearity, resolution, and timing. In data analysis, simulations are used to model the detector response; unfolding or deconvolution techniques may be applied to infer the true input distributions from measured signals.

Detector response varies by detector class. Scintillation detectors translate energy deposition into light and then into an electronic signal; semiconductor detectors collect charge generated by ionization; calorimeters measure energy through shower development; gas detectors record ionization in gas media. Understanding the detector response is essential for efficiency corrections, background subtraction, and meaningful comparison with theoretical predictions.