Knowledge base
Explanations of measurement technology, terms and standards – written to make choosing equipment easier. Technical values refer to the manufacturer’s document or to the standard they are based on.
Guides
How to read a data sheet – where a value comes from and what it promises
A value in a data sheet applies under stated conditions. Here is how to find the source of a figure, tell guaranteed limits from typical values and compare instruments on equal terms.
Detector materials for gamma spectrometry: NaI, LaBr₃, CZT and HPGe
Energy resolution determines how close two gamma lines can be and still be told apart. This guide compares the most common detector materials using the manufacturers’ own resolution figures – and explains what the difference means when you choose an instrument.
Dose rate, contamination or nuclide identification – which instrument do you need?
Radiation instruments are built to answer different questions: how high is the dose rate, is there radioactive material on the surface, or which nuclide is it? This guide explains the quantities, detector types and what to look for in a data sheet.
Relative efficiency of HPGe detectors – what does 40% mean?
HPGe detectors are often specified as 20%, 40% or 100%. The figure is a comparison number defined in IEEE Std 325 – not an absolute efficiency. Here is how to read relative efficiency, resolution and peak-to-Compton ratio in a data sheet.
Glossary
Short explanations of units, quantities and abbreviations found in data sheets.