Simulation and experimental results for the detection of conversion electrons with gas proportional scintillation counters

Abstract

The application of gas proportional scintillation counters (GPSC) to the detection and identification of conversion electrons in the medium energy range is investigated. Experimental and Monte Carlo results are presented for the response of a xenon GPSC, filled at atmospheric pressure, to the decay of a 109Cd source. This source emits 88.0 keV [gamma]-rays, eL=84.6 keV and eK=62.5 keV conversion electrons, as well as fluorescence X-rays and Auger electrons. Good agreement is found between the measured and the calculated energy spectra. The response to higher-energy electrons is investigated by Monte Carlo simulation, by considering a hypothetical GPSC filled with xenon at 10 atm and doped with the 133mXe metastable isotope. The calculated energy spectra for the absorption of the 133mXe 233.2 keV [gamma]-rays, eK=198.6 keV and eL=228.4 keV conversion electrons, as well as fluorescence X-rays and Auger electrons, are presented and discussed.