Unitized radiation detector assembly

Abstract

A unitized scintillation detector, employing a scintillation element and a photomultiplier tube housed within inner and outer housings for protection against shock, and a scintillation shock assembly. The scintillation element is encased within potting material, which is enclosed within a rigid shield. A reflective coating or tape may be used to optimize light impulse transmission from the element to the photomultiplier. The element is further protected from shock by an elastomeric boot disposed around the shield and within the housing. Elastomeric material cushions the element on one end and a spring system protects the other end. The spring system is pre-loaded against the shield, not the element. Dual windows interfacing the scintillation element and photomultiplier tube at the other end of the element create an hermetic seal. The photomultiplier tube is encased within an elastomer with outwardly directed projections. The photomultiplier tube is protected from radial and axial shock as well as thermal excursions. The optical window is hermetically sealed through the use of a thin braze ring. Alternatively, the window may be hermetically sealed by applying a metal layer directly to the circumference of a sapphire rod or other suitable transparent material by plasma-spraying. The metal may be titanium or layers of titanium, aluminum and/or inconel. The applied metal coating may be shaped, machined and/or etched for interfacing with other structures or containers. The metal coated rod may be sliced into wafers. The wafers may be used to form the hermetically sealed optical windows.