What is a common material used in scintillation detectors?

Sodium iodide (NaI) doped with thallium is a widely used material in scintillation detectors due to its effective ability to convert ionizing radiation into visible light. When radiation interacts with the sodium iodide crystal, it excites the atoms and subsequently releases the energy in the form of scintillation light. The addition of thallium as a dopant enhances the light output and improves the efficiency of the detection process. This characteristic makes it particularly valuable for various applications in radiation detection and spectroscopy.

In the context of scintillation detectors, this material is favored because it has a high light yield, fast response time, and good energy resolution, which allows for accurate measurements of different types of radiation. Other materials mentioned, while they have their own applications in radiation detection or shielding, do not possess the same level of efficiency and effectiveness as sodium iodide doped with thallium for scintillation detection.