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Title: Radon detection

Abstract

A detector for atmospheric radon using a long range alpha detector as its sensing element. An electrostatic filter removes ions from ambient air, while allowing radon atoms to pass into a decay cavity. Here, radon atoms are allowed to decay, creating air ions. These air ions are drawn by a fan through a second electrostatic filter which can be activated or deactivated, and into the long range alpha detector. With the second electrostatic filter activated, no air ions are allowed to pass, and the signal output from the long range alpha detector consists of only the electronic background. With the second electrostatic filter deactivated, air ions and cosmic rays will be detected. The cosmic ray contribution can be minimized by shielding.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
  2. Ojo Caliente, NM
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869135
Patent Number(s):
US 5281824
Assignee:
United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
radon; detection; detector; atmospheric; range; alpha; sensing; element; electrostatic; filter; removes; ambient; air; allowing; atoms; pass; decay; cavity; allowed; creating; drawn; fan; activated; deactivated; signal; output; consists; electronic; background; cosmic; rays; detected; ray; contribution; minimized; shielding; signal output; decay cavity; electrostatic filter; ambient air; sensing element; alpha detector; range alpha; atmospheric radon; radon atoms; cosmic rays; allowing radon; /250/

Citation Formats

MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, and Bounds, John A. Radon detection. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, & Bounds, John A. Radon detection. United States.
MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, and Bounds, John A. 1994. "Radon detection". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869135.
@article{osti_869135,
title = {Radon detection},
author = {MacArthur, Duncan W and Allander, Krag S and Bounds, John A},
abstractNote = {A detector for atmospheric radon using a long range alpha detector as its sensing element. An electrostatic filter removes ions from ambient air, while allowing radon atoms to pass into a decay cavity. Here, radon atoms are allowed to decay, creating air ions. These air ions are drawn by a fan through a second electrostatic filter which can be activated or deactivated, and into the long range alpha detector. With the second electrostatic filter activated, no air ions are allowed to pass, and the signal output from the long range alpha detector consists of only the electronic background. With the second electrostatic filter deactivated, air ions and cosmic rays will be detected. The cosmic ray contribution can be minimized by shielding.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/869135}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}