Abstract:
An ionizing radiation detector having an enclosure filled with a rare gas within which is located a proportional counter. An absorption zone is formed between the counter and the upper wall of the enclosure in which radiation is ionized. The counter has at least one anode and at least one cathode which are parallel to one another and separated by an insulating material layer. The cathode and the insulating material layer have at least one opening in which there is a substantially uniform electric field and which constitutes a multiplication zone for electrons which result from the ionization of the radiation.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a medical imaging device using X or gamma ionizing radiation. It comprises a source (S) of radiation in a divergent beam, and a longitudinal slit (F) delivering a sheet-form beam in a plane containing the slit (F). A detection module (1) is provided, which comprises a drift chamber (12) and a multiwire chamber which are filled with a gas. The chambers comprise, in a direction orthogonal to the plane containing the slit (F), the drift space (12) for the electrons, comprising a cathode electrode (11), a converter (121), a proportional multiplier anode (13) for generating multiplied electrons and corresponding ions, and a second cathode electrode (14), placed in the vicinity of the multiplier anode (13). The multiplier anode (13) and the second cathode electrode (14) consist of conductor elements extending in two parallel planes, along substantially orthogonal directions, in order to permit two-dimensional localization of the electrons in this plane.
Abstract:
An improved multiwire proportional counter camera having particular utility in the field of clinical nuclear medicine imaging. The detector utilizes direct coupled, low impedance, high speed delay lines, the segments of which are capacitor-inductor networks. A pile-up rejection test is provided to reject confused events otherwise caused by multiple ionization events occuring during the readout window.
Abstract:
A high speed curved position sensitive porportional counter detector for use in x-ray diffraction, the detection of 5-20 keV photons and the like. The detector employs a planar anode assembly of a plurality of parallel metallic wires. This anode assembly is supported between two cathode planes, with at least one of these cathode planes having a serpentine resistive path in the form of a meander having legs generally perpendicular to the anode wires. This meander is produced by special microelectronic fabrication techniques whereby the meander "wire" fans outwardly at the cathode ends to produce the curved aspect of the detector, and the legs of the meander are small in cross-section and very closely spaced whereby a spatial resolution of about 50 .mu.m can be achieved. All of the other performance characteristics are about as good or better than conventional position sensitive proportional counter type detectors. Count rates of up to 40,000 counts per second with 0.5 .mu.s shaping time constants are achieved.
Abstract:
A gamma ray energy filter for a improving the uniformity of response of a Geiger-Muller tube comprises only two spaced filter bodies. To improve the uniformity of the energy response, the two filter bodies consist of a lead/tin alloy containing substantially less than 95% but not substantially less than 40%, and suitably 50-60%, of lead. To improve the polar response particularly in directions away from the normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and at quite low energies, adjacent edges of the filter bodies are inclined to the longitudinal axis over a majority of their radial thickness at less than 45.degree., and circumferentially-spaced apertures with axes inclined to the longitudinal axis are provided in at least one of the bodies.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a way to prolong the service life of proportional counters, there being added to the gas mixture consisting of a rare gas and a hydrocarbon, serving as gas filling in the counters, hydrogen gas in the amount of 0.05-5.0% by weight, preferably 0.1-2.0% by weight. In addition, the hydrogen gas may in part at least be deuterium.
Abstract:
The spatial distribution of mono-energetic x-rays from a point source, is determined by a device which comprises a gas filled enclosure having a flat radiation entrance window. Flat electrodes establish an electrical field of such amplitude that there occurs conversion of said radiation into photo electrons and avalanche electron multiplication resulting in delivery of a burst or pulse of electrons per conversion whose height is an increasing function of the travel path of the electrons avalanche from the location of the conversion event to the planar outlet electrode. A detector located in a second portion of the enclosure receives the pulse of electrons and determines the coordinates and the pulse height of the pulse.
Abstract:
A radiation detector of the gas-filled counter tube type which has a reduced count rate drift. An electrically conductive coating is applied to the interior insulating surfaces in proximity to the anode wire of a gas-filled counter tube structure having an axially disposed wire anode. The electrically conductive coating is maintained at the same electrical potential as the anode and accumulated charges in proximity to the anode are thereby eliminated. Alternately, the electrically conductive coating applied to the interior insulating surfaces in proximity to the anode may be maintained at the same electrical potential as the outer conducting cylinder in order to eliminate accumulated charges. The elimination of accumulated charges in proximity to the anode significantly reduces count rate drift and hence improves detector performance.
Abstract:
An array of needle point anodes has its points uniformly spaced from a sheet cathode. Ionization occurring in an ionizable medium causes electron multiplication in the high electric field of the nearest anode point. A semiconductor solid may be the ionizable medium, instead of the usual gaseous or liquified rare gas. The pulse count rate is individually measured for each anode, or for each cathode segment when the anodes are connected together and a segmented cathode is used, to locate the trajectory and measure the flux of ionizing particles.
Abstract:
A position sensitive multiwire proportional counter with integral delay line including a support carrying a plurality of anode wires and at least one cathode wire spaced in a predetermined relationship from the anode wires within the active volume of the counter to form an integral delay line. The counter is filled with a gas which ionizes upon interaction with ionizing radiation, the ionization of the gas being enhanced by the positive anode, such that an electrical charge is thereby induced in the cathode wire. Sensing of elapsed time between receipt of the induced charge at opposing ends of the cathode wire is utilized to determine the desired radiation positional data.