SU124553A1 - Ionizing radiation sensor - Google Patents

Description

Ionizing radiation sensors are known that contain an anode and a cathode that are enclosed in an evacuated or gas-filled flask and connected to a constant voltage source.

The difference between the proposed sensor and the known ones is that the anode is made of a semiconductor and connected to an additional source of constant voltage. Such an embodiment of the sensor makes it possible to increase the average value of the current delivered to it.

FIG. 1 and 2 shows the scheme of the proposed sensor in two versions.

The sensor is made as an evacuated or gas-filled flask / (Fig. 1) with anode 2 and cathode 5. Power supply 4 is connected between the anode and cathode. The anode is made of semiconductor and connected to an additional constant-voltage source 5, the circuit of which is included measuring device 6. The proposed sensor operates on the same principle as the well-known sensors of pulsed gas discharge of charged particles. However, due to the high velocity acquired in an electric field, electrons arising in it during the discharge process can not only communicate their charge to the anode, but also change its conductivity, and hence the current passing through the device. In this case, since the kinetic energy of an electron during its collision with the anode substance is expended on the release of several secondary electrons (more precisely, on their transition to the conduction band), in the proposed system there is an increase in the pulse and average current.

The anodes of the meters of the proposed system can be made by pulling a filament from an appropriate semiconductor material by applying an insulating material (glass, quartz) to the filament.

№ 124553

semiconductor layer. The latter method is more suitable for crystalline substances, such as sulfides.

The anodes can be made in the form of a cylinder (filament) of parallel or coaxial semiconductor layers with conductivity of different currents, or in the form of a ball with a corresponding contact transition. To share the gas discharge current of the bulb / and the amplified photoconductivity current of the anode 2, the polarity of the batteries 5 is chosen so that both currents flow through the device in the same direction (Fig. 2).

Subject invention

Claims (3)

1. An ionizing radiation sensor containing an anode and a cathode enclosed in an evacuated or gas-filled flask and connected to a constant voltage source, characterized in that, in order to increase the average value of the output current, the anode is made of a semiconductor and connected to an additional constant source this voltage. 2. A sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the semiconductor is deposited on an insulating base, made in the form of a ball or filament. 3. The sensor PP. 1 and 2, characterized in that the anode contains two parallel or concentric semiconductor layers with different types of conductivity.