Measurement of the gamma-ray response of some commercial silicon detectors

This report gives the results of measurements of the response of some commercial photodiodes and particle detectors to monoenergetic gamma-ray sources. The absolute response and the response, as a function of photon energy, detector thickness and discriminator level, were investigated and are shown to be in general agreement with earlier calculations. It is concluded that, with appropriate photon filtration, the small photodiodes tested would be suitable for the relatively high dose-rate measurements of primary interest for military applications, although their thickness is greater than the thickness for best energy response.