Nuclear Radiation Detectors

Nuclear radiation detectors are required in all the major fields of nuclear science and technology. They fall into two principal categories, single element detectors and imaging detectors. Single element detectors can be classified into four types, based upon their physical mode of operation. These are 1) Scintillation counters, 2) Gas ionization detectors, a) Ionization chambers, b) Proportional counters, c) Geiger-Mueller counters, 3) Semiconductor detectors, and 4) Chemical detectors. The limitations of these detectors are discussed in terms of sensitivity, energy resolution, speed, and ability to discriminate against background radiations. This gives some indication of the directions along which future developments must proceed. Imaging detectors include both area imaging, such as radioautography and scintillation counter scanning, and track imaging. The various techniques of track imaging from the Wilson cloud chamber and bubble chamber through scintillation track imaging and spark chambers are discussed.