gammadetektor

GammaDetektor is a device designed to detect and measure gamma radiation. It converts gamma photons into electrical signals, enabling qualitative and quantitative analysis of radioactive sources in fields such as nuclear physics, medicine, environmental monitoring, and security.

Operation relies on interactions between gamma rays and detector material. Gamma photons may undergo the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, or pair production depending on energy and material. In scintillation detectors, gamma interaction produces light in a scintillator, which is detected by a photodetector such as a photomultiplier tube or a silicon photomultiplier. In semiconductor detectors, the interaction creates electron-hole pairs that are collected by electrodes to produce a charge signal. Some detectors use gas-filled chambers to collect ionization produced by gamma interactions.

Common detector technologies include scintillation detectors using materials like NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl), BGO, and LYSO, coupled to photomultipliers or silicon photomultipliers; semiconductor detectors such as high-purity germanium (HPGe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe); and portable configurations for field use. Gamma cameras for medical imaging and room-temperature semiconductors for portable spectroscopy are typical examples.

Performance depends on energy resolution, detection efficiency, and timing capabilities. Calibration with known gamma sources establishes energy scales and efficiency curves. HPGe detectors offer excellent energy resolution but require cooling, while scintillators and CdZnTe provide more convenient operation at room temperature. Shielding and digital signal processing improve sensitivity and reduce background.

Applications span gamma spectroscopy, medical imaging (SPECT and related modalities), space-based astrophysics, environmental monitoring, and security. Ongoing developments focus on faster electronics, better energy resolution, and room-temperature semiconductor materials.