Study on ZnS(Ag) for alpha spectrometer using silicon based photo sensor

Abstract

The measuring of alpha particles is essential in many research fields such as radiation safety, health science, high energy, and nuclear physics. One of the most hazardous background radiation sources, radon, emits alpha particles, and damages lungs. Thus, the measurement of alpha particles in air correlates with the amount of radon and indicates when to ventilate the air. To detect alpha particles decayed from radon, a silicon photon multiplier (SiPM) in the shape of a multipixel photon counter (MPPC) and a scintillator optimized for zinc sulfide phosphor [ZnS(Ag)] alpha measurement were used. In this study, a dedicated amplifier was designed. The change in the pulse shape owing to operational amplifier, feedback resistor, and capacitor affect were studied and compared to that of a photo multiplier tube (PMT).