What is the ratio of detected counts to actual disintegrations known as?

The term referring to the ratio of detected counts to actual disintegrations is known as detector efficiency. This concept is crucial in the field of radiation detection because it quantifies how effectively a detector converts the physical interactions of radiation into measurable counts.

When radiation disintegrates, it produces particles or photons that can interact with the detector material. However, not every interaction will result in a detected count due to various factors such as the design of the detector, the energy of the incoming radiation, and the type of radiation being measured. Detector efficiency provides insight into how well the detector performs in terms of capturing these interactions and reporting them accurately as counts.

In the context of radiation monitoring and measurements, a higher detector efficiency means a more reliable representation of actual disintegration events, which is critical for accurate dose assessments and radiation safety protocols.