Stabilized scintillation detector for radiation spectroscopy and method

• US 7,005,646 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mirion Technologies Incorporated (American Capital Limited)
• Original Assignee: Canberra Industries, Inc. (American Capital Limited)
• Inventors: Jordanov, Valentin T., Kastner, Mat
• Primary Examiner(s): GAGLIARDI, ALBERT J
• Application Number:
  US10/625,920
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 250/363.1, 250/252.1, 250/207
• US Class Current: 250/363.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/208 Circuits specially adapted for scintillation detectors, e.g. for the photo-multiplier section

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a stabilized scintillation detector, including: an LED that periodically produces a light pulse; a beam splitter that impinges some of the light pulse on a photodetector and on a photomultiplier; a scintillator that receives radiation and is coupled to the photomultiplier; and a control unit that receives signals from the photodetector and the photomultiplier representative of the light pulse received by the photodetector and the photomultiplier and receives a signal representative of temperature of the scintillator and outputs, in part, a signal to the photomultiplier to stabilize the photomultiplier. A method of using the scintillator is also provided.

Claims

1. A stabilized scintillation detector, comprising:

(a) an LED that periodically produces a light pulse;

(b) a beam splitter that impinges some of said light pulse on a photodetector and on a photomultiplier;

(c) a scintillator that receives radiation and is coupled to said photomultiplier; and

(d) a control unit that receives signals from said photodetector and said photomultiplier representative of said light pulse received by said photodetector and said photomultiplier and receives a signal representative of temperature of said scintillator and outputs, in part, a signal to said photomultiplier to stabilize said photomultiplier.

2. A method of using a scintillation detector, comprising:

(a) periodically producing a light pulse;

(b) impinging some of said light pulse on a photodetector and on a photomultiplier;

(c) using a scintillator to receive radiation, said scintillator being to said photomultiplier; and

(d) receiving signals from said photodetector and said photomultiplier representative of said light pulse received by said photodetector and said photomultiplier and receiving a signal representative of temperature of said scintillator and outputting, in part, a signal to said photomultiplier to stabilize said photomultiplier.