Simulation and experimental results for the detection of conversion electrons with gas proportional scintillation counters

The application of gas proportional scintillation counters (GPSC) to the de tection and identification of conversion electrons in the medium energy ran ge is investigated. Experimental and Monte Carlo results are presented for the response of a xenon GPSC, filled at atmospheric pressure, to the decay of a Cd-109 source. This source emits 88.0 keV gamma-rays, e(L) = 84.6 keV and e(K) = 62.5 keV conversion electrons, as well as fluorescence X-rays an d Auger electrons. Good agreement is found between the measured and the cal culated energy spectra. The response to higher-energy electrons is investig ated by Monte Carlo simulation, by considering a hypothetical GPSC filled w ith xenon at 10 atm and doped with the Xe-133m metastable isotope. The calc ulated energy spectra for the absorption of the Xe-133m 233.2keV gamma-rays , e(K) = 198.6keV and e(L) = 228.4keV conversion electrons, as well as fluo rescence X-rays and Auger electrons, are presented and discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.