Radiation Detectors: Physical Principles and Applications (Oxford Science Publications)

From the pocket dosemeter and photographic emulsions to the superheated drop detector and the single particle calorimeter, this text describes the wide range of sensing apparatus used for observing and measuring nuclear radiation. Emphasis is placed on simple but thorough explanations of the underlying physics for each detector and on their applications. Introductions to the types of radiation and their interaction with matter lead to descriptions of well established devices such as ionization chambers, proportional and Geiger counters, scintillation counters, semiconductor detectors, and other more recent innovations such as semiconductor drift chambers and dark matter detectors. A separate chapter discusses sources of noise and their influence on the energy resolution achievable with different systems. The book has been written by two physicists who have worked and taught in the field for many years. It is intended for advanced undergraduates and graduate students as well as technicians and workers who use sources of ionizing radiation.