An Overviews of Gamma Ray Detector - A Review

Abstract

In order for a gamma ray to be detected, it must interact with matter that interaction must be recorded. Fortunately, the electromagnetic nature of gamma-ray photons allows them to interact strongly with the charged electrons in the atoms of all matter. The key process by which a gamma ray is detected is ionization, where it gives up part or all of its energy to an electron. The ionized electrons collide with other atoms and liberate many more electrons. The liberated charge is collected, either directly (as with a proportional counter or a solid-state semiconductor detector) or indirectly (as with a scintillation detector), in order to register the presence of the gamma ray and measure its energy. The final result is an electrical pulse whose voltage is proportional to the energy deposited in the detecting medium. In this paper, we will present some general information on types of gamma-ray detectors that are used in non-destructive assay (NDA) of nuclear materials.