Term: radiation detector
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05054

Definition:
A device in which incident radiation produces a measurable effect. If this effect is a rise in temperature it is called a thermal detector. If it is a rise in pressure it is called a photoacoustic detector. In the case where an electrical signal is produced it is called a photoelectric detector. Photoelectric detectors can be classified as photo-emissive detectors and semiconductor detectors. Where the radiation produces a chemical reaction, it is termed a photochemical detector. A detector yielding an output signal that is independent of the wavelength of the radiation over a specific region is called a nonselective detector. Where it is wavelength specific it is a selective detector. A detector having a quantum efficiency independent of the wavelength is a nonselective quantum counter. Certain detectors are able to distinguish between different quantum energies. This property is described by the energy resolution Δ E and the energy resolving power E Δ E. These detectors are called energy dispersive detectors. In X-ray spectroscopy, the reciprocal Δ E E is often used but this is discouraged.

Related Terms:
1) photoacoustic detector (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04574).
2) semiconductor (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05591).
3) wavelength (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.W06659).
4) quantum efficiency (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.Q04988).
5) power (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04792).
6) x-ray spectroscopy (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.X06718).

Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 2513. 'Nomenclature for radioanalytical chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 2518 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466122513)

Citation: 'radiation detector' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05054

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