Scintillation fiber type radiation detector

• US 5,880,475 A
• Filed: 06/03/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsutaka, Yoshikazu, Oka, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Application Number:
  US08/867,883
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 250/368, 250/367, 250/486.1, 250/483.1
• US Class Current: 250/483.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/201 using scintillating fibres

Abstract

A radiation detector obtains radiation information by detecting a light pulse occurred in response to a radiation in a scintillation fiber at one end or opposite ends of the scintillation fiber. The scintillation fiber is surrounded by a scattering member which emits an electron by interaction with the radiation.

Claims

1. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector comprising:

at least one scintillation fiber for producing a light pulse in response to a radiation, the light pulse being detected at one end or opposite ends of the scintillation fiber to obtain radiation information; and

at least one scattering member for emitting an electron by interaction with the radiation;

wherein the scintillation fiber is arranged in or on the scattering member, and

the scattering member is made of a material having a high atomic number.

2. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein the scintillation fiber is connected to an optical fiber for transmission having lower transmission loss than the scintillation fiber, and

the scintillation fiber and the optical fiber for transmission are connected to provide a composite fiber, and the composite fiber has only a portion with the scintillation fiber included therein as a radiation detecting portion provided with the scattering member, and a light signal from the radiation detecting portion is transmitted through the optical fiber.

3. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein the scattering member is made of a noncombustible material, and the scintillation fiber is made of a quartz material.

4. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein the scintillation fiber is spirally arranged in or on the scattering member.

5. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein the scattering member with the scintillation fiber arranged therein or thereon is wound by a heat insulating tape.

6. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of scattering members are made of different materials, and a plurality of scintillation fibers are surrounded by the different scattering members.

7. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector comprising:

at least one scintillation fiber for producing a light pulse in response to a radiation, the light pulse being detected at one end or opposite ends of the scintillation fiber to obtain radiation information; and

at least one scattering member for emitting an electron by interaction with the radiation;

wherein the scintillation fiber is arranged in or on the scattering member, and

the scattering member has at least one groove formed therein, and the scintillation fiber is arranged in the groove.

8. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector according to claim 7, wherein the groove is formed in an outer peripheral portion of the scattering member.

9. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in an outer peripheral portion of the scattering member and the respective grooves include scattering members made of different materials.

10. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector comprising:

at least one scintillation fiber for producing a light pulse in response to a radiation, the light pulse being detected at one end or opposite ends of the scintillation fiber to obtain radiation information; and

at least one scattering member for emitting an electron by interaction with the radiation;

wherein the scintillation fiber is arranged in or on the scattering member,

wherein the scintillation fiber is connected to an optical fiber for transmission having lower transmission loss than the scintillation fiber, and

the scintillation fiber and the optical fiber having connecting ends covered by inner connection pipes so that the inner connection pipes have connecting end surfaces flush with connecting end surfaces of the scintillation fiber and the optical fiber, the inner connection pipes having respective inner diameters identical to respective outer diameters of the scintillation fiber and the optical fiber, and the scintillation fiber and the optical fiber are connected by inserting the inner connection pipes in a single outer connection pipe having respective inner diameters identical to respective outer diameters of the respective inner connection pipes, and interposing an optical element having a light-gathering function between the scintillation fiber and the optical fiber.

11. A scintillation fiber type radiation detector comprising:

at least one scintillation fiber for producing a light pulse in response to a radiation, the light pulse being detected at one end or opposite ends of the scintillation fiber to obtain radiation information; and

at least one scattering member for emitting an electron by interaction with the radiation;

wherein the scintillation fiber is arranged in or on the scattering member,

wherein the scintillation fiber is connected to an optical fiber for transmission having lower transmission loss than the scintillation fiber, and

a plurality of scintillation fibers and a plurality of optical fibers for transmission are connected to provide a plurality of composite fibers, and the composite fibers are arranged to have a portion with the scintillation fiber included therein relatively shifted in a longitudinal direction thereof.