Comparison of the response of different voltage dividers to low-level measurement using a large plastic scintillator intended for radiation portal monitors

Abstract

The work deals with the comparison of voltage dividers with different wiring of resistors and capacitors. The voltage divider recommended by the manufacturer of the used photomultiplier (ET Enterprises, GB) was used as a reference. The aim was to assess the influence of different voltage dividers together with the large volume scintillation detector on detection parameters such as the efficiency of the measurement and dose rate linearity using 241Am, 137Cs, and 60Co gamma sources. The experiments showed relatively great differences between 15_10(_C) voltage divider (R1 and R2-R11, 15 MW and 10 MW) and the rest. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the voltage divider recommended by the manufacturer of the used photomultiplier showed the best results, but some of the measured dividers exhibited similar results and therefore can be used in radiation portal monitors as well.

Keywords

• voltage divider
• radiation portal monitor
• gamma-radiation
• organic-based polystyrene scintillator