Using Consumer Cameras to Observe Scintillation Light from Radiation

TL;DR

This paper explores using consumer cameras to detect scintillation light from radiation, enabling visual observation and analysis of radiation properties in educational settings.

Contribution

It demonstrates that general-purpose cameras can measure scintillation light and relate spatial distribution to radiation energy, offering an accessible educational tool.

Findings

Cameras can detect scintillation light from radiation.

Spatial distribution correlates with radiation energy.

Method enables visual comparison of radiation properties.

Abstract

For a long time, the cloud chamber was the only educational tool available for measuring radiation. In recent years, simple radiation detectors combining scintillators with silicon photomultipliers have become increasingly common for these purposes. However, students are not able to see the scintillation light, the core process of radiation measurements with scintillators. Therefore, we explored the possibility of detecting scintillation light using two general-purpose cameras. In addition, we examined how differences in the spatial distribution relate to radiation types and energies. Scintillation light were able to be measured by a general-use camera, and their spatial distribution indicates radiation energy. This method could be utilized as an accessible imaging setup to compare radiation properties in a classroom.