Scintillator light yield nonproportionality: calculating photon response using measured electron response

To study the effects of scintillator light yield nonproportionality, a technique has been developed to calculate photon response. A discrete convolution of measured electron response and the electron energy distribution for a particular scintillator yields the photon response. By establishing the ability to accurately calculate photon response, the experimental implications of scintillator light yield nonproportionality and geometry effects can be studied without the requirement for experimental measurements. This technique also provides a more detailed characterization of photon response than experimental techniques that rely on the use of multiple gamma-ray and X-ray sources. To demonstrate this technique, NaI(Tl), CaF/sub 2/(Eu), and LSO(Ce) photon responses have been calculated. By comparing calculated results to both measured photon responses and previously published photon responses for these scintillators, this technique has been validated.