Photon Detectors: How Do They Work?

[Sumo]

Hey, I'm new to these forums and am just learning about quantum physics.

I was wondering about the detectors used to pick up on photons. How exactly do these detectors work? What about the ones described which detect a photon but allow it pass through?

Also, if a detector were designed to detect a photon of visible light radiation, would it also pick up a photon of gamma radiation?

 

[inha]

There's a bunch of ways to detect photons. Your average camera has a photon detector, film. Here's a couple of ways that are used atleast at the X-ray energies.

Solid state semiconductor detectors detect photons via the electron-hole pairs the incoming photons create in a semiconducting crystal. In an applied electric field that produces a current which is propotional to the incoming photons' energies. Then there's scintillation detectors in which the incoming photon makes the detecting element emit new photons which create a current via a photomultiplier tube.

I don't know about your last question. The detectors are usually designed to work at a certain photon energy range. For something to work at ev and MeV photon energies would take some exceptional instrumentation.

 

[denian]

Photon detectors are devices that are used to detect and measure the presence of photons, which are particles of light. These detectors work by converting the energy of a photon into an electrical signal that can be measured and analyzed.

There are different types of photon detectors, but they generally work by using a material that is sensitive to light, such as a semiconductor. When a photon of light strikes the material, it causes electrons to be released, creating an electrical current. This current can then be amplified and measured, providing information about the number and energy of the photons that were detected.

Some photon detectors, such as photomultiplier tubes, work by amplifying the initial signal from a single photon to make it easier to detect and measure. Others, like photodiodes, directly convert the energy of the photon into an electrical signal.

As for detectors that allow a photon to pass through, these are typically used in experiments where it is important to maintain the integrity of the photon being studied. These detectors work by allowing the photon to pass through a thin material, such as a thin film of silicon, and then measuring the changes in the material caused by the passing photon.

In terms of detecting different types of radiation, it is possible to design a detector that is specific to a certain type of radiation, such as visible light or gamma radiation. However, some detectors, such as Geiger counters, are able to detect a wide range of radiation types, including gamma radiation.

I hope this helps to answer your question. Keep exploring and learning about quantum physics – it is a fascinating field!