DETECTION OF AIRBORNE PLUTONIUM USING ALPHA ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
Methods for the detection of low-level plutonium air contamination were examined, and a series of definitive experiments was carried out. A sensitivity of 40 MPC-hr was obtained using alpha-energy analysis techniques where the contributions from higher-energy radon and thoron that appear in the Pu/sup 239/ channel were compensated using electronic balancing circuitry. This provided a considerable reduction in complexity compared to other air particulate monitors of similar sensitivities. Additional experiments showed that gamma background levels of 2 mr/hr and beta particle levels of 2.4 x 10/sup 4/ dpm will not adversely affect the sensitivity or general operation. An increase in air flow rate and/or an increase in detector and filter diameter will improve the basic sensitivity. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1350
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-000163
- OSTI ID:
- 4170832
- Report Number(s):
- HW-78734
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALPHA DETECTION
ARGON
AROMATICS
BACKGROUND
BETA PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
CLATHRATES
CONFIGURATION
CONTAMINATION
CRYSTALLIZATION
CRYSTALS
DEFECTS
EFFICIENCY
FILTERS
FLUORINE
GAMMA RADIATION
GASES
HELIUM
KRYPTON
LATTICES
NEON
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
PLUTONIUM
PREPARATION
PRESSURE
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUINONES
RARE GASES
SENSITIVITY
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENTS
TEMPERATURE
VAPORS
WATER
XENON