New Near-Infrared and Ultraviolet Gas-Proportional Scintillation Counters

New studies of gas-proportional scintillation counters have been performed using a large alpha source, reasonable spectral resolution (< 25-k), and including the strong near-infrared transitions in noble gases excluded in all previous studies. The results indicate that several new gas mixtures show promise for detectors to measure the neutron fluxes in a reactor over a wide range of values and in many nuclear physics applications where fast response and good energy resolution are desired. When used with an isotopic source the device can be used as a portable, variable-intensity light source or to detect trace amounts of atmospheric contaminants such as CO, NO, and Hg. The work also has provided useful data for laser systems pumped by ionizing radiation as well as for the operation of plasma display panels.