Long-range alpha detector (LRAD) for contamination monitoring

Author

MacArthur, D.W. ; Allander, K.S. ; Bounds, J.A. ; Catlett, M.M. ; McAtee, J.L.

Author_Institution

Los Alamos Nat. Lab., NM, USA

fYear

1991

fDate

2-9 Nov. 1991

Firstpage

1324

Abstract

The authors describe a novel long-range alpha detector (LRAD) in which alpha particles interact with the ambient air, producing ionization in the air at the rate of about 30000 ion pairs per megaelectronvolt of alpha energy. These charges can be transported over significant distances (several meters) in a moving current of air generated by a small fan. An ion chamber located in front of the fan measures the current carried by the moving ions. The LRAD-based monitor is more sensitive and more thorough than conventional monitors. The authors present current LRAD sensitivity limits and results, practical monitor designs, and proposed uses for LRAD monitors.<>

Keywords

alpha-particle detection and measurement; ionisation chambers; radiation monitoring; contamination monitoring; ion chamber; long-range alpha detector; practical monitor designs; sensitivity limits; Alpha particles; Current measurement; Detectors; Ionization; Laboratories; Pollution measurement; Probes; Radiation monitoring; Surface contamination; US Department of Energy;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, 1991., Conference Record of the 1991 IEEE

Conference_Location

Santa Fe, NM, USA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-0513-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NSSMIC.1991.258830

Filename

258830