You are here
Scintillation Radiation Detector Assemblies
The proper scintillation detector packaging and integration of scintillation crystals is a science combining advanced design and engineering skills with proven assembly techniques and materials to produce stable, high-resolution radiation detectors. Offering a variety of standard detector designs to fulfill most radiation counting applications: a packaged scintillator, a scintillator integrated (permanent or demountable) with a light-sensing device [such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) or silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)], and a detector with low energy entrance window. Each of those standard detector configurations can be designed with one or more of the various options listed plus integrated electronics.
Scintillation Detectors with Integrated Light Sensor
In this configuration, an integrally mounted light sensing device, such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and silicone photomultiplier (SiPM), is optically coupled directly to the scintillator. The scintillator and light sensor are assembled in a light tight, compact and hermetic package for optimal performance.
Features/Benefits
- Direct light sensor-to-crystal mounting
- Compact package
- Light sensor is matched and tested with scintillator
- Consistent, superior energy resolution
Design Options
- Scintillator options including: NaI(Tl), LaBr3, BGO and others
- Light sensor options included PMT, position sensitive PMT and SiPM selected for low-background, premium resolution, fixed high voltage use, or gain matching
- Integrated or plug-on voltage divider, preamplifier, high voltage power supply and multi-channel analyzer
- Gain stabilization
- End-well and through-well geometries
- Special flanges, mounting fixtures or other modifications
- Low background packaging options available
- Harsh Environments - Designed to operate outside standard laboratory environment (extreme cold, vacuum, elevated temperatures, underwater, severe mechanical shock and vibration)
Related Resources
Scintillation Detectors with Demountable Light Sensor
The demountable designs are made with hermetic seals to optical windows that allow the removal of the light sensor(s) without disturbing the scintillator hermetic package. This configuration is well-suited for applications requiring the use of a crystal larger than 4” diameter or multiple light sensors.
Features/Benefits
- Light sensor may be removed without disturbing the scintillation crystal's hermetic package
- Large scintillator volumes can be accommodated
Design Options
- Scintillator options including: NaI(Tl), LaBr3, BGO and others
- Light sensor options included PMT, position sensitive PMT and SiPM selected for low-background, premium resolution, fixed high voltage use, or gain matching
- Integrated or plug-on voltage divider, preamplifier, high voltage power supply and multi-channel analyzer
- Gain stabilization
- End-well and through-well geometries
- Special flanges, mounting fixtures or other modifications
- Low background packaging options available
- Harsh Environments - Designed to operate outside standard laboratory environment (extreme cold, vacuum, elevated temperatures, underwater, severe mechanical shock and vibration)
Related Resources
Scintillation Detectors with Square or Rectangular Cross-Sections
Scintillation detectors with square or rectangular cross-sections are a cost-effective alternate to the standard right circular cylinder. A square scintillator provides a 27% increase in volume over a cylindrical scintillator of the same diameter and length. This increases detector efficiency while keeping package size and shielding requirements down. It also allows for stacking of detectors in arrays. Various lengths are available, depending on the scintillator choice, with 16” being a common size. Excellent uniformity can be achieved for long square or rectangular detectors. Up to 1m lengths have been designed and assembled. The stopping power is sufficient for high energy gammas. Common applications include aerial survey, whole body scanning, pulse gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) and portal monitors.
Features/Benefits
- Increased crystal volume
- Reduced number of light sensors for large coverage area
- Easily stacked in arrays for increased efficiency
- Excellent energy resolution and uniformity
Design Options
- Scintillator options including: NaI(Tl), LaBr3,BGO and others
- Light sensor options included PMT, position sensitive PMT and SiPM selected for low-background, premium resolution, fixed high voltage use, or gain matching
- Integrated or plug-on voltage divider, preamplifier, high voltage power supply and multi-channel analyzer
- Gain stabilization
- Special flanges, mounting fixtures or other modifications
- Low background packaging options available
- Harsh Environments - Designed to operate outside standard laboratory environment (extreme cold, vacuum, elevated temperatures, under water, severe mechanical shock and vibration)
Related Resources
Standard Packaged Scintillators
The scintillation crystal is hermetically packaged with a metal container, an optical window incorporated on one end, and reflector material between the scintillator and the container walls. A wide variety of shapes (including rectangular) and sizes can be produced. These detectors require user-supplied, externally-coupled light sensors.
View our Standard Scintillation Product List for sales drawings.
Below is the typical packaged scintillator construction.
Features/Benefits
- Reliable hermetically package
- Stable reflector systems
- Flexible configurations
Design Options
- Scintillator options including: NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl), BGO and others
- End-well and through-well geometries
- Special flanges, mounting fixtures or other modifications
- Low background packaging options available
- Harsh Environments - Designed to operate outside a standard laboratory environment (extreme cold, vacuum, elevated temperatures, underwater, severe mechanical shock and vibration)
- You can temporarily mount a PMT by using optical coupling compound and black tape to make a light seal. Optical coupling materials are available, details on the assembly materials page.
Related Resources
Detectors For Low Energy Gamma and X-ray Detection
Our X-ray detectors and probes are used in various low-energy and X-ray detection applications. These detectors come in three types of assemblies: Packaged X-ray crystals, Integral X-ray detectors and X-ray probes. All use a thin 1mm or 2mm NaI(Tl) crystal — usually 25mm (1"), 38mm (1.5") or 51mm (2") in diameter — and a radiation entrance window selected to provide the appropriate transmission for the energy of interest. The typical energy range for an assembly with a beryllium entrance window is 3 to 100 keV and 10 to 200 keV for an assembly with an aluminum entrance window. View our Standard Scintillation Product List for sales drawings.
Features/Benefits
- Thin entrance window allows measurements down to 3 keV
- Thin crystal reduces sensitivity to background radiation
Design Options
- Thin entrance window material and thickness
- The typical energy range with a beryllium entrance window is 3 to 100 keV and 10 to 200 keV with an aluminum entrance window.
- Scintillator options including: NaI(Tl), LaBr3 and others
- Light sensor options included PMT, position sensitive PMT and SiPM selected for low-background, premium resolution, fixed high voltage use, or gain matching
- Integrated or plug-on voltage divider, preamplifier, high voltage power supply and multi-channel analyzer
- Gain stabilization
- Special flanges, mounting fixtures or other modifications
- Low background packaging options available
Related Resources
Gain Stabilization Methods
Gain stabilization techniques are used to prevent loss of resolution due to gain drifts in PMTs and system electronics when making measurements over long time periods. Depending upon your requirements, we can supply detectors incorporating any of the following types of stabilization techniques:
Features/Benefits
- Lowest background contribution: Electronic based and LED
- Minimal mechanical design interface: Electronic based and Radioactive sources
- Minimal drift with temperature: Electronic based and Radioactive sources
- Turnkey solution: Electronic based
Design Options
- Electronics based
- LED based system
- Radioactive source - 241Am, 137Cs