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Title: 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}
}