Radiation detector, and x-ray analysis apparatus and radiation detection method using the same

Abstract

There are provided a radiation detector capable of detecting radiation without occurrence of dead time while maintaining an exposure state in which radiation enters continuously, and an X-ray analysis apparatus and a radiation detection method using the radiation detector. A radiation detector 100 that detects radiation in synchronization with an external apparatus 200 , includes: a sensor 110 that generates pulses when radiation particles are detected; a plurality of counters 140 a, 140 b provided so as to be able to count the pulses; and a control circuit 160 configured to switch a counter to count the pulses among the plurality of counters 140 a, 140 b , when receiving a synchronization signal from the external apparatus 200.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radiation detector that detects radiation in synchronization with an operation of an external apparatus, the radiation detector comprising:
 a sensor that generates pulses when radiation particles are detected;   a plurality of counters provided so as to be able to count the pulses; and   a control circuit configured to perform continuous exposure while switching a counter to count the pulses among the plurality of counters at a timing of receiving a trigger signal from the external apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The radiation detector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a readout circuit configured to perform reading from the counter that has finished counting immediately before between timings of receiving a trigger signal from the external apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The radiation detector according to  claim 1 , comprising two counters as the plurality of counters. 
     
     
         4 . The radiation detector according to  claim 1 , comprising three or more counters as the plurality of counters. 
     
     
         5 . The radiation detector according to  claim 1 , receiving a signal for specifying time or a position as the trigger signal from the external apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . An X-ray analysis apparatus comprising:
 a mechanism configured to cause an X-ray to enter continuously; and   the radiation detector according to  claim 1  that detects the X-ray caused to enter.   
     
     
         7 . A radiation detection method for detecting radiation in synchronization with an operation of an external apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 counting pulses generated when radiation particles are detected with one of a plurality of provided counters;   switching a counter to count the pulses among the plurality of counters provided so as to be able to count the pulses at a timing of receiving a trigger signal from the external apparatus; and   reading count data from the counter which has finished counting immediately before, at the same time of switching the counter, wherein   a series of steps is repeated until measurement is finished.