F6801 Detection and measurement of radiation

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Aleš Jančář, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Věra Mazánková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Věra Mazánková, Ph.D.
Department of Condensed Matter Physics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. Dušan Hemzal, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Condensed Matter Physics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Předpokládají se základní znalosti z matematiky a fyziky v rozsahu bakalářského studia.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The main aim of the course is to support the radiological physics courses at the Master's degree level. It is designed as a basic course in the fields of study requiring knowledge of detectors and detection of basic types of ionizing radiation. Emphasis is placed on the principles and methods of measurement including the processing of output signals. Most attention is focused on gas, scintillation and semiconductor detectors. The course also covers integral detectors used in personal dosimetry. Ionizing radiation sources will also be discussed to the extent necessary, with emphasis on those used in medical applications. The course also includes an introduction to ionizing radiation metrology.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will be able to describe and explain in detail the physical principles of basic types of ionizing radiation detectors when interacting with alpha, beta, gamma and neutron sources. He will also be able to design optimal measurement methods and signal processing based on interactions of ionizing radiation with the surrounding environment. Student will be able to perform theoretical calculations of activities, dose rates, source emissions and create a design for shielding in order to reducing radiation.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to detection and measurement of IZ, types of IZ, photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, quantities and units of atomic and nuclear physics, ionizing radiation protection 2. Radiation detectors and detection principles, basic types of detectors, ionization, recombination, secondary ionization 3. Scintillation detectors, classification of scintillation detectors, basic processes in scintillators, radiative and non-radiative transitions, fluorescence, phosphorescence, delayed phosphorescence, single and multi-component scintillators - conversion efficiency, practical applications of scintillation detectors 4. Ionization chambers, design and principle of operation, diffusion, recombination, drift velocity, current ionizing chamber, impulse ionizing chamber, leakage currents and dynamic response of ionizing chamber, connection of ionizing chamber and electrometer, measurement of basic dosimetric quantities 5. Proportional detectors, principle of operation, gas amplification by impact ionization, effect of space charge, fluctuation of ion pair formation - Fano factor, FWHM, counting characteristic, detection efficiency, application of proportional detectors in practice 6. Geiger-Müller detectors, self-extinguishing and non-self-extinguishing, counting characteristics, dead time, detection efficiency, background compensation 7. Semiconductor detectors, basic semiconductor materials, saturation and drift velocity, P-type semiconductors, N-type semiconductors, formation of PN transition, diffusion, use of PN transition as a charged particle detector, HPGe detectors and their basic parameters (detection efficiency, FWHM, peak-to-Compton ratio, cooling) 8. Neutron detection, neutron detector design, materials and effective cross sections, detection methods (ToF, transmutation method – B-10, Li-6, He-3 reactions, fission method)
Literature
  • Knoll G.: Radiation detection and measurement, 4th edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2008.
  • GERNDT, Josef and Petr PRŮŠA. Detektory ionizujícího záření. 2. přepracované vydání. V Praze: České vysoké učení technické, 2011, 182 stran. ISBN 9788001047101. info
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Assessment methods
Oral examination.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2019, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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