Scintillation response of Xe gas studied by gamma-ray absorption and Compton electrons

Abstract

In this study we report on the scintillation response of Xe gas under irradiation of gamma-rays in the energy range between 50 keV and 1.5 MeV. Xe gas was pressurized to 50 bar and tested as a detector for gamma spectroscopy. The gas was confined in a titanium vessel of 200 mm length and 101 mm diameter with 2.5 mm thick walls. The vessel was sealed with two 3 inch diameter UV transparent windows. The inner surface of the vessel was covered with a reflecting wavelength shifter. Two photomultipliers coupled to both windows at the end of the vessel allowed for registration of 3700 photoelectrons/MeV, which resulted in 7.0% energy resolution registered for 662 keV γ-rays from a 137Cs source. The non-proportionality of the photoelectron yield and intrinsic resolution was studied with gamma photoabsorption peaks. Due to the thickness of the detector vessel, the response of the Xe gas as a scintillator in the low energy range was performed by means of a Compton Coincidence Technique and compared with the gamma absorption results. The shape of the non-proportionality characteristics of Xe gaseous scintillator was compared to the results obtained for NaI:Tl, LaBr3:Ce and LYSO:Ce. A correlation between non-proportionality and intrinsic resolution of Xe gaseous scintillator was pointed out.