Influence of Extraterrestrial Radiation on Radiation Portal Monitors
Abstract
Cosmic radiation and solar flares can be a major source of background radiation at the Earth’s surface. This paper examines the relationship between extraterrestrial radiation and the detectable background in radiation portal monitors used for homeland security applications. Background radiation data from 13 radiation portal monitor facilities are examined and compared against external sources of data related to extraterrestrial radiation, including measurements at neutron monitors located at 53 cosmic-ray observatories around the Earth, four polar orbiting satellites, three geostationary satellites, ground-based geomagnetic field data from observatories around the Earth, a solar magnetic index, solar radio flux data, and sunspot activity data. Four-years (January 2003 through December 2006) of data are used in this study, which include the latter part of Solar Cycle 23 as solar activity was on the decline. The analysis shows a significant relationship between some extraterrestrial radiation and the background detected in the radiation portal monitors. A demonstrable decline is shown in the average gamma ray and neutron background at the radiation portal monitors as solar activity declined over the period of the study.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 965129
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-60496
Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9499; IETNAE; 400904120; TRN: US0903583
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 56(3 Pt. 3):1575-1583
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 56; Journal Issue: 3 Pt. 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9499
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 58 GEOSCIENCES; 72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; BACKGROUND RADIATION; COSMIC RADIATION; GEOMAGNETIC FIELD; MONITORS; NEUTRON MONITORS; NEUTRONS; RADIATIONS; SATELLITES; SECURITY; SOLAR ACTIVITY; SOLAR CYCLE; SOLAR FLARES; SUNSPOTS; cosmic-rays; gamma-ray detection; neutron detection; portal monitor; radiation detection; homeland security
Citation Formats
Keller, Paul E, and Kouzes, Richard T. Influence of Extraterrestrial Radiation on Radiation Portal Monitors. United States: N. p., 2009.
Web. doi:10.1109/TNS.2009.2019618.
Keller, Paul E, & Kouzes, Richard T. Influence of Extraterrestrial Radiation on Radiation Portal Monitors. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2009.2019618
Keller, Paul E, and Kouzes, Richard T. 2009.
"Influence of Extraterrestrial Radiation on Radiation Portal Monitors". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2009.2019618.
@article{osti_965129,
title = {Influence of Extraterrestrial Radiation on Radiation Portal Monitors},
author = {Keller, Paul E and Kouzes, Richard T},
abstractNote = {Cosmic radiation and solar flares can be a major source of background radiation at the Earth’s surface. This paper examines the relationship between extraterrestrial radiation and the detectable background in radiation portal monitors used for homeland security applications. Background radiation data from 13 radiation portal monitor facilities are examined and compared against external sources of data related to extraterrestrial radiation, including measurements at neutron monitors located at 53 cosmic-ray observatories around the Earth, four polar orbiting satellites, three geostationary satellites, ground-based geomagnetic field data from observatories around the Earth, a solar magnetic index, solar radio flux data, and sunspot activity data. Four-years (January 2003 through December 2006) of data are used in this study, which include the latter part of Solar Cycle 23 as solar activity was on the decline. The analysis shows a significant relationship between some extraterrestrial radiation and the background detected in the radiation portal monitors. A demonstrable decline is shown in the average gamma ray and neutron background at the radiation portal monitors as solar activity declined over the period of the study.},
doi = {10.1109/TNS.2009.2019618},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/965129},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 56(3 Pt. 3):1575-1583},
issn = {0018-9499},
number = 3 Pt. 3,
volume = 56,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}