COMPUTER SIMULATION OF GAMMA-RAY DETECTOR BASED ON SCINTILLATION CRYSTALS AND SILICON PHOTOMULTIPLIERS

Subject of Research. The paper considers the principles of realization of the gamma-radiation detector based on a silicon photoelectron multiplier and a scintillation crystal with the use of an optical matching scheme. Method. For studying the possible variants of detector creation, computer models were developed in the ZEMAX Software environment, describing radiation propagation process of scintillation in the crystal volume in view of the main processes taking place in the scintillation detector. The model has the same optical characteristics as cesium iodide (CsI). Main Results. Quantitative parameters of the signal and radiation losses in modeled systems were obtained. The information on radiation distribution in the photodetector plane was obtained as well. The optimal sheme for detector creation from the registration effectiveness point of view was established and its geometric parameters were determined. Practical Relevance. The development of the approach gives the possibility to solve the problem of creating highly efficient and miniature scintillation detectors at the expense of a new class of photodetectors - silicon photoelectric multipliers. The results of the research will be useful in the development of scintillation gamma spectrometers and other devices with operating principles based on the methods of scintillation spectrometry and radiometry