Lead iodide X-ray detection systems

Recent progress in the development of room-temperature lead iodide (Phi,) X-ray detectors is reported. Progress has been made in the areas of detector fabrication and preamplifier electronics, and this has resulted in improved detection performance. An energy resolution of 415 eV (FWHM) has been reported for 5.9 keV X-rays (“Fe source) with 1 mm’ detector at room temperature. A better estimation of the Fano factor in PbIz has been carried out and the upper limit of the Fano factor is calculated to be 0.19. Larger lead iodide detectors (up to 2.5 mm*) have been fabricated and their spectroscopic performance has been evaluated. The timing characteristics of lead iodide detectors have been investigated. A compact, portable lead iodide probe assembly has been designed and built for X-ray spectroscopic applications. Finally, optical and charge particle detection properties of lead iodide detectors have also been characterized.