Kailash Dhaker (09024) MS Batch 2009 Department of Physical Science IISER Bhopal

Introduction
Gamma Radiation
Interaction of Gamma Radiation with Matter Scintillator Detector NaI(Tl) Scintillator Detector Experimental Procedure and Observations

Conclusion
References

Gamma Radiation
When a nucleon is in a high-energy orbit while a low-

energy orbit is unfilled, it can jump to the lowerenergy orbit with the energy thereby released coming of as a quantum of electromagnetic radiation, which we call a gamma ray.
These g-rays can be detected, and their energies

can be measured, using several types of detectors

Interaction of Gamma Radiation

A gamma ray can interact with matter in three ways1. Photoelectric Interaction 2. Compton Interaction 3. Pair Production

Scintillator Detector
Detector absorb incident radiation and emit there

energy (photon) in the form of light

These photons are then used to release avalanche

of electrons by a photomultiplier tube which can be detected to give the output pulse

Scintillator Detector
Sequence of events:

1. Scintillator:

In a solid crystal, the incident radiation ionizes some of the atoms at the lattice sites knocking out electrons which on recombination releases low energy radiation (300-500 nm)

Scintillator Detector
2. Photomultiplier Tube: These photons are then directed towards the photomultiplier tube (PMT) which releases photoelectrons from the photocathode. They are then accelerated by the electric field and strikes to the dynode surface (from which more electrons can be easily knocked out). The process of striking the several dynode surfaces continues until they are collected by the anode giving it a charge which flows to the capacitor to give the output voltage.

Scintillator Detector

NaI(Tl) Scintillator Detector

[Ref: http://www.thefullwiki.org/Basic_Physics_of_Nuclear_Medicine/Scintillation_Detectors]

Scintillator Detector
Two types of scintillator material is used
1. Organic: Contain molecules like Benzene,

Naphthalene or Anthracene
2. Inorganic: Crystals like NaI and CsI is used as

scintillator material with some impurity (as activator)

NaI(Tl) Scintillator Detector

NaI(Tl) is a second type (inorganic) scintillator

detector Sodium Iodide (NaI) crystal with small amount of Thallium (Tl) as an impurity Tl is present as Tl+ (activator) in place of Na+ in the lattice

NaI(Tl) Scintillator Detector

NaI(Tl) is a second type (inorganic) scintillator

detector Sodium Iodide (NaI) crystal with small amount of Thallium (Tl) as an impurity Tl is present as Tl+ (activator) in place of Na+ in the lattice

Experimental Procedure
Experimental Setup
1. NaI(Tl) Scintillator Detector 2. Radioactive Samples 3. Computer setup with pre-installed software to obtain

Gamma Spectrum
Energy calibration using Na-22 sample
Gamma Spectrum were obtained for Cs-137 and Mn-54

Observations
Gamma Ray Spectrums of Cs-137 and Mn-54 were

obtained From Gamma Ray Spectrum, Gamma ray energy were calculated and compared with literature value

Gamma Ray Energy of Na-22 (Calibration)

Gamma Ray Energy for Peak-1 510 keV Gamma Ray Energy for Peak-2 1272 keV

Observations
Gamma Ray Spectrum of Na-22 (Calibration)

Observations
Gamma Ray Spectrum of Cs-137

Observations
Gamma Ray Spectrum of Mn-54

Observations
Gamma Ray Spectrum of Ba-133

Observations
Gamma Ray Energy for Cs-137 , Mn-54 and Ba-133 (Calculated from Spectrum)

Sample

Experimental Value

Literature Value

Cs-137 Mn-54
Ba-133 Peak-1 Peak-2

660 keV 811 keV

87 keV 374 keV

661.64 keV 834.83 keV

80 keV 356 keV

Conclusion
Gamma Ray Energy obtained from gamma spectrum is quit close to literature value of gamma energy for Cs-137, Mn-54 and Ba-137

References
Gamma Radiation-

Bernard L Cohen Concepts of Nuclear Physics

Scintillator Detector-

Glenn F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement

Literature value of gamma energy

www.csupomona.edu/~pbsiegel/bio431/genergies.html

Thank You