A charge conversion nanoparticle enhanced microGeiger for alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron detection

This paper reports on a radiation detection platform that uses charge conversion nanoparticles to detect and discriminate all types of radiation. Previous microGeigers only detect beta particles. The microGeiger reported here detects beta particles, along with gammas, alphas and neutrons. The multi-species detecting microGeiger counter contains a biased fill gas that becomes ionized when impinging radiation interacts with tailored nanoparticles to release secondary charged particles. The ionized particles then collect on respectively biased electrodes to register characteristic pulse heights which are analyzed with pulse height spectroscopy techniques. The microGeiger counter uses ceramic injection molding processes to batch fabricate inexpensive devices that are essentially disposable.