Resolution is the width of a single energy peak at a specific energy on a spectral plot, measured in absolute keV or as a percentage of the energy at that specific point on the graph. A higher resolution means more distinct spectral peaks, allowing radioisotopes to be identified with precision.
A higher resolution is crucial when analysing complex mixtures where overlap between radioisotopes with similar signature peaks is likely.
The above spectra is for the source Cs-137, and clearly displays the differences in spectral peaks produced by detectors with different resolutions
Blue (broadest peak) is the low resolution (<7% @ 662 keV) D3S ID
Low resolution is a cost-effective solution, and beneficial when only the basic identification of radioisotopes is required. On duty officers, for example, would benefit from the constant monitoring of low resolution personal radiation detectors (PRDs), and use their rapid alarms to protect the public, themselves and their team in response to a radiological event by taking rapid action.
Orange is the medium resolution (<4% @ 662 keV) D5 RIID
Medium resolution detectors provide a more advanced isotope identification capability, necessary for CBRN specialist teams completing secondary adjudications e.g. informing clean-up operations after an radiological event. The ability to reliably identify several isotopes in a mixture is important in applications such as border control, where dangerous radioistopes can be masked by less harmful radioisotopes.
Black (narrowest peak) is the high resolution
(2% @ 662 keV ) GR1-A
High resolution detectors are typically used in more lab or research-based applications for long-term monitoring where highly defined spectral peaks are essential and rapid alarms aren't needed.
Finding the right resolution
View our product brochures to find out more about the features of our detectors that are important to you
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