Hybrid photodiodes in scintillation counter applications

This paper describes the results obtained from various scintillators when viewed by a Hybrid PhotoDiode (HPD) with several different scintillation crystals. The energy loss spectra produced by gamma-ray photons having energies in the range of 20 to 662 keV were measured using a commercially available HPD. An excellent single photo-electron response was measured using a low-noise preamplifier. Measurements of the number of photo-electrons produced and the energy resolution of the full-energy peak as a function of the gamma-ray energy and the acceleration voltage were made. Finally, optical Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate the light loss in the entrance window and to optimise its geometry. The potential advantage of incorporating a BGO entrance window for some applications was also explored.