DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : M. Vani
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : AEIE
Institution :Dr.B.R.Ambedkar GMRP,KNR
Year/sem :IV-SEM
Subject :Process Instrumentation-II
Subject code :AEI-405
Topic : Nuclear Instrumentation
Duration : 50 minutes
Sub Topic : Scintillation counter
Teaching aids : PPT, Diagrams
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 Recap

In previous topic we have discussed about

• Ionization chamber

• Its working

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 Objectives

Upon completion of this topic you would be able

to know about

• scintillation counter

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 Scintillation counter
• The crystals such as zinc sulphide, sodium iodide,
naphthalene produce flash of light each time when
struck by an alpha or beta or gamma particles.

• The production of a flash light by striking these crystals

with these rays is called scintillation.

• The principle used for nuclear radiations sensor is

called “scintillation counter”.

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Scintillation counter

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Scintillator

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 Working of scintillation counter

• Every time a radiation strikes the crystals, a tiny

flash of light is produced.

• The flash of light is amplified by a photomultiplier

placed in the scintillation counter

• Each particle produces a pulse of anode current at

the output of the photo multiplier.

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• The output of the photomultiplier is applied to a high
speed electronic counter which counts each tiny flash
generated by the scintilization crystals.

• Thus by counting number of pulses in a period of time,

the intensity of radiations may be detected

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 Advantages of scintillation counter

• This is more sensitive than Geiger Muller tube and

hence can detect lower levels of radiations.
• As the crystal produces flash of light, this can be
also used to detect x-rays.
• Counting rate is very fast.
• Pulses of short duration of 2ns can be easily
recorded.

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 Summary

• In this class we have discussed about

• Scintillation counter

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 Quiz

1. The nuclear radiations in scintillation counter is

obtained in the form of

a) Tiny flash of Light

b) Sound
c) Smoke
d) None

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 Frequently asked questions

1) Draw the figure of scintillation counter ?

3) Explain the working of the scintillation counter?

5) Give the advantages of scintillation counter ?

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Thank you

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