Introductory Remarks
This experiment introduces you to basic experimental techniques used in nuclear and particle physics to detect ionizing
particles. The detectors used are scintillators. First, one of the scintillators is assembled and commissioned. The
properties of two different types of scintillators, inorganic and organic scintillators, are investigated. From
measurements of the characteristic curves the working points for these detectors are determined. Due to their good
energy resolution inorganic scintillators are used for spectroscopical application. As an example for the usage of
anorganic scintillators you will determine the endpoint energy of a beta source, see e.g. here . The measurement of the endpoint of
beta source is today of significant importance for the direct measurement of the mass of neutrinos.
Organic scintillators are very often used when ionizing particles need to be detected with an accurate time resolution.
E.g. they are used for triggers in fixed target experiments and to measure the time of flight (TOF) of particles.
The TOF in combination with the measurement of the particle energy or momentum allows to identify particles up to
energies of about 1GeV.
During the practical course the time resolution of these detector is measured. The coincidence technique is introduced
and using that technique cosmic particles are detected. The dependency of the particle flux from cosmic particles on
the zenith angle is measured.
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