When does sensitivity take the lead, and when does resolution really matter?
In radiation detection, both sensitivity and resolution play
an important role:
Sensitivity
The sensitivityof a radiation detector refers to how well a radiation detector can detect low levels of radiation. Sensitive detectors are able to convert low levels of radiation into electrical signals more efficiently.
As a result, a highly sensitive detector will be more effective at
picking up weaker sources.
When is sensitivity important?
Detectors with a high sensitivity are optimal for environments or situations with low levels of radiation, such as measuring NORM in environmental surveys and detecting contamination in hospitals and waste management.
Meanwhile, the resolutionof a radiation detector refers to how well a radiation detector can distinguish between different radioisotopes. Radiation detectors with a higher resolution produce more distinct, narrow spectral peaks on a spectral plot, allowing for radioisotopes in a source to be identified with more precision.
Take the spectra below for instance.
This is for the source Cs-137. The spectra clearly displays the differences in spectral peaks produced by detectors with different resolutions.
Blue is low resolution, orange is medium and black is high. The black spectral peak is the most narrow and distinct, facilitating a more definite confirmation of the radioisotopes present. If there were multiple sources with similar energies on the x axis, the wider peaks of the blue low resolution detector would likely result in extensive overlap of peaks , making it harder to distinguish them.
When is resolution important?
Detectors with a high resolution are optimal for measuring radiation in higher dose environments and sites contaminated with mixed sources. This is important in nuclear event monitoring and quality control in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing
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