Which type of ionizing radiation can luminescent radiation detectors measure?

Luminescent radiation detectors are specifically designed to measure various forms of ionizing radiation by utilizing materials that emit light (luminescence) when exposed to radiation. Gamma rays and X-rays are forms of electromagnetic radiation and can penetrate materials more deeply than alpha and beta particles, allowing luminescent detectors to effectively measure them. These detectors often use materials such as phosphors, which absorb the energy from the radiation and re-emit it as visible light, providing a quantifiable measure of the radiation exposure.

While alpha particles and beta particles can also be detected by certain types of detectors, they typically require different methods or materials. Alpha particles, for instance, have very low penetration power and are not detected effectively by luminescent detectors without specific modifications. Similarly, beta particles can be detected but may require a different type of configuration than those primarily used for measuring gamma rays.

In this context, gamma rays are the most commonly measured by luminescent radiation detectors due to their higher penetration capabilities and the efficiency of the detectors designed to capture and quantify the light produced from interactions with these high-energy photons.