Gas scintillation proportional counter: a new type of potential radiation detector [Paper No.:B5]

In recent years, a new type of radiation detector known as Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter (GSPC) has shown a lot of promise. GSPC can offer detection areas of few hundred cm2 along with good energy resolutions which are in fact comparable to those obtained with semi-conductor detectors at low photon energies. In addition it also possesses a mechanism to obtain extremely low backgrounds using pulse shape discrimination technique. Health Physics Division (HPD), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has been engaged in the development of GSPC techniques with the ultimate objective of developing systems for detection of Pu in human lungs. A variety of GSPCs with different geometries and constructional materials in order to understand the GSPC mechanism has been developed. This paper gives a brief account of the principles and the potential of GSPCs along with some of the results from the studies carried out. (author). 6 refs., 6 figs