Creation of electron-hole pairs in inorganic scintillators

The inorganic scintillation detector is the most widely used radiation sensor. Yet in many applications the scintillator requirements for an optimal operation are not met. Often either the light yield is too low or the response time is too slow, or both. Much research is in progress to improve this situation. Here, models are discussed of the first stage of the scintillation mechanism in an inorganic scintillator: the primary interaction and the thermalization process. The model predictions are compared with experimental results, an extension of the theory is made and conclusions are drawn concerning the best description of the first stage