THE RESPONSE OF XENON X-RAY-DETECTORS TO FULL-ENERGY ABSORPTION AND FLUORESCENCE-ESCAPE EVENTS - MEASUREMENT AND MODELING

We have observed that the pulse-height distributions of x-ray events t hat deposit essentially the same amount of energy in a xenon gas detec tor will vary according to the deexcitation pathways available to the photoionized atoms. A xenon gas proportional scintillation counter was used to compare the pulse-height distributions of events in which flu orescence x-rays from xenon escape detection. Experimental results are presented and the behaviour for different types of events is clarifie d using Monte Carlo simulation. The results indicate that particular c are must be taken when using escape peaks for energy calibration of xe non gas detectors.