What is primarily detected by the scintillation detector during gamma spectroscopy?

The scintillation detector primarily measures photon intensities during gamma spectroscopy. This device operates by detecting gamma rays, which are high-energy photons emitted by radioactive materials. When these gamma rays interact with the scintillation material within the detector, they produce flashes of light (scintillations). The intensity of this light is directly proportional to the energy of the incoming gamma photons.

In gamma spectroscopy, these detected flashes are then converted into an electrical signal, which can be analyzed to obtain information about the energy spectrum of the radiation. This allows for the identification and quantification of various isotopes based on their characteristic energy signatures. Therefore, focusing on photon intensities provides critical data for understanding the radioactive sources being analyzed.