Scintillation Counter
A radiation detection instrument that measures ionizing radiation by detecting flashes of light (scintillations) produced in a luminescent material using a photomultiplier tube.
Governing formula
Ionizing Radiation → Scintillation Photons → Photoelectrons
SI unit
Pulse Counts / Energy Spectra
In depth
Incident radiation excites crystal atoms (like NaI or plastic scintillators), which emit visible light flashes during de-excitation. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) converts light flashes into amplified electrical pulses proportional to radiation energy.
Examples in the real world
Gamma-ray spectroscopy measuring radioactive sample isotope energies using Sodium Iodide (NaI) scintillation detectors.