Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

What type of ionizing radiation are luminescent radiation detectors appropriate for measuring?

1. Alpha rays

2. Beta rays

3. Gamma rays

4. X-rays

The correct answer is: Gamma rays

Luminescent radiation detectors are primarily suitable for measuring gamma rays. This is because these detectors operate by absorbing ionizing radiation and then re-emitting it as visible light. Gamma rays have a high penetrating ability, allowing them to interact with the materials used in luminescent detectors effectively. These materials typically respond well to high-energy photons, which is characteristic of gamma radiation. When gamma rays hit the detector, they can cause excitation in the detector's phosphors, leading to the emission of light that can be quantified. This makes luminescent radiation detectors highly effective for environmental monitoring and radiation safety, where gamma radiation detection is often crucial. While alpha rays, beta rays, and X-rays can also be measured using various types of detectors, luminescent detectors are specifically designed to excel in gamma ray detection due to their sensitivity to the energy levels associated with these types of radiation.