Radiation detector based on acoustic methods using piezoelectric PZT elements

When energetic ions enter a material, they lose their kinetic energies due to their interactions with the material. This energy is converted into heat, which generates a pressure wave via volume expansion. Consequently, the pressure wave propagates in the material. The pressure wave can be detected when a pressure-sensitive element is suitably arranged. This report deals with the case where acoustic are generated in water by energetic xenon ions; these signals propagate in water, and are detected by a PZT element steeped in water. Consequently, the behavior of the pressure signal is explained qualitatively. Since the experimental details and results were published in Ref.1, this report serves to learn a detector based on acoustic principle. Another type of detection method that the pressure-element is directly irradiated appears elsewhere. The results of this study would promote developing detection techniques for heavily dosed radiation detectors like an oxide layer detector. In addition, this acoustic method may be applicable to radiology. (author)