ERGENA ABAZI, DRITAN PRIFTI, KOZETA TUSHE
Abstract
Radiation detectors are essential instruments in nuclear science, medical imaging, environmental monitoring, industry, and radiation protection. Their performance directly impacts data quality, safety assessments, and system reliability. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the major classes of detectors, including gas-filled, scintillation, semiconductor, and neutron- sensitive systems, highlighting their operating principles, interaction mechanisms, and key performance characteristics. Particular emphasis is placed on the fundamental physical processes, including ionization, scintillation, charge transport, and secondary electron production, that determine the detector response and sensitivity. It also reviews common sources of measurement uncertainty and describes contemporary strategies for optimizing performance, such as improved signal processing, improved gas quenching techniques, optimized material selection, temperature stabilization, and robust calibration procedures. The findings show that appropriate detector selection combined with well-controlled operating conditions can significantly improve energy resolution, detection efficiency, and measurement reliability. This review provides a practical basis for researchers and practitioners seeking to improve measurement accuracy and select the most appropriate detection technologies for specific radiation environments.
Key words: Radiation detectors, radiation protection, measurement accuracy, detection technology.