Scintillation counters detect X-rays and other radiation by making use of the phenomenon that certain solid or liquid substances can emit light when struck by X-ray photons or any other ionizing radiation. A typical scintillation counter consists of two main components: a sheet of scintillator which is a type of crystal that fluoresces visible light after excitation by X-ray photons, and a photomultiplier or semiconductor photodetector, which converts the light flash into electrons and produces a voltage pulse with a large degree of amplification.
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