Output characteristics of piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate detector using high-energy heavy-ion beam

A radiation detector fabricated using piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) has been studied by irradiating it with a 400MeV/n xenon (Xe) beam. The beam diameter was controlled to change the irradiation conditions. It was found that the magnitude of the output observed from the PZT detector may be related to the number of Xe ions per unit area per unit time within the limits of the experimental conditions. •The performance of PZT detector was studied by irradiation of a 400MeV/n Xe beam.•The beam diameter was controlled to change the irradiation conditions.•By the control, the number of Xe ions per one pulse was changed from ~500 to ~1500.•The output of the PZT detector was not always larger with more intense beam.•The energy of Xe ions per unit area per unit time may determine the output.