LRAD surface monitors

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10135332

MacArthur, D W; Allander, K S; Bounds, J A; Rutherford, D A ^[1]; Caress, R W ^[1]; Catlett, M M ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

The long-range alpha-detection (LRAD) technique depends on the detection of ion pairs generated by alpha particles losing energy in air, rather than on detection of the alpha particles themselves. Typical alpha particles generated by uranium or plutonium travel < 3 cm in air. In contrast, the ions have been successfully detected many inches or feet away from the contamination. Since LRAD detection systems are sensitive to all ions simultaneously, large LRAD surface monitors can be used to collect all of the ions from a large area. The LRAD surface monitors are designed around the fan-less LRAD detector. In this case, a five-sided box with an open bottom is placed on the soil surface. Ions generated by alpha decays on the soil surface are collected on a charged copper plate within the box. These ions create a small current from the plate to ground, which is monitored with a sensitive electrometer. The current measured is proportional to the number of ions in the box, which is, in turn, proportional to the amount of alpha contamination on the surface of the soil. This report includes the design, construction, and testing of two types of soil surface monitors.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 10135332
• Report Number(s): LA-12524-MS; ON: DE93009218
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Feb 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
RADIATION MONITORS
PERFORMANCE
SOILS
ALPHA DETECTION
RADIATION MONITORING
FLOORS
SURFACES
REMEDIAL ACTION
FEED MATERIALS PRODUCTION CENTER
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
440101
560101
054000
GENERAL DETECTORS OR MONITORS AND RADIOMETRIC INSTRUMENTS
DOSIMETRY AND MONITORING
HEALTH AND SAFETY