Broadband wireless sensing of radioactive chemicals utilizing inherent RF transmissions from pulse discharges

Author

Eun, Christine K. ; Gharpurey, Ranjit ; Gianchandani, Yogesh B.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI

fYear

2005

fDate

Oct. 30 2005-Nov. 3 2005

Abstract

This paper reports a wireless sensing scheme that exploits gas discharges in microstructures and discharge-based sensors such as micromachined Geiger counters. Experiments are conducted on devices that have a glass-Si-glass stack of 8 times 8 mm² footprint, with discharge gaps in the range of 300-550 mum. Electrical discharges triggered by exceeding the breakdown voltage and by ionization due to beta particles provide an RF spectrum spanning a bandwidth greater than 1.2 GHz, which extends into the ultra-wideband (UWB) range of communication. These are broadband signals that can be detected by AM and FM radios at distances greater than 50 cm from the sensor. Measurements of electric field strength and audio recordings from radio receivers are reported

Keywords

Geiger counters; discharges (electric); electric field measurement; ultra wideband communication; wireless sensor networks; 300 to 550 micron; Geiger counters; audio recordings; beta particles; breakdown voltage; broadband signals; broadband wireless sensing; discharge-based sensors; electric field strength; electrical discharges; gas discharges; inherent RF transmissions; pulse discharges; radio receivers; radioactive chemicals; ultra-wideband communication; Bandwidth; Beta rays; Chemical sensors; Counting circuits; Discharges; Gas detectors; Ionization; Microstructure; Radio frequency; Wireless sensor networks;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Sensors, 2005 IEEE

Conference_Location

Irvine, CA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-9056-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICSENS.2005.1597689

Filename

1597689