Low-energy beta spectroscopy using pin diodes to monitor tritium surface contamination

Wampler, W R; Doyle, B L

doi:10.2172/10169800

Title: Low-energy beta spectroscopy using pin diodes to monitor tritium surface contamination

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Abstract

We show that tritium betas emitted from a surface can be counted using a pin photodiode as a solid state charged particle detector. Furthermore, we show that the range of tritium betas through air is sufficient to allow measurement of tritium on samples in air by this method. These two findings make possible a new method to survey tritium surface contamination which has advantages over existing methods. We have built and tested several prototype instruments which use this method to measure tritium surface contamination, including a compact portable unit. The design of these instruments and results from tests and calibrations are described. Potential applications of this new method to monitor tritium are discussed.

Authors:: Wampler, W R; Doyle, B L

Publication Date:: Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

Research Org.:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 10169800

Report Number(s):: SAND-94-0939
ON: DE94015777; BR: GB0103012; TRN: 94:015461

DOE Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:: Technical Report

Resource Relation:: Other Information: PBD: Jun 1994

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; TRITIUM; BETA SPECTROSCOPY; RADIATION MONITORS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; RADIATION MONITORING; SURFACE CONTAMINATION; SCINTILLATOR-PHOTODIODE DETECTORS; NICKEL 63; 440102; 560180; RADIATION DOSEMETERS; RADIATION PROTECTION PROCEDURES

Citation Formats


                    Wampler, W R, and Doyle, B L. Low-energy beta spectroscopy using pin diodes to monitor tritium surface contamination.  United States: N. p., 1994. 
        Web.  doi:10.2172/10169800.

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                    Wampler, W R, & Doyle, B L. Low-energy beta spectroscopy using pin diodes to monitor tritium surface contamination.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/10169800

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                    Wampler, W R, and Doyle, B L. 1994.  
        "Low-energy beta spectroscopy using pin diodes to monitor tritium surface contamination".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/10169800.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10169800.

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@article{osti_10169800,

  title        = {Low-energy beta spectroscopy using pin diodes to monitor tritium surface contamination},

  author       = {Wampler, W R and Doyle, B L},

  abstractNote = {We show that tritium betas emitted from a surface can be counted using a pin photodiode as a solid state charged particle detector. Furthermore, we show that the range of tritium betas through air is sufficient to allow measurement of tritium on samples in air by this method. These two findings make possible a new method to survey tritium surface contamination which has advantages over existing methods. We have built and tested several prototype instruments which use this method to measure tritium surface contamination, including a compact portable unit. The design of these instruments and results from tests and calibrations are described. Potential applications of this new method to monitor tritium are discussed.},

  doi          = {10.2172/10169800},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10169800},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994},

  month        = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994}

}

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