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U.S. Department of Energy
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A SOLID STATE POCKET RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEM. Final Report, September 1, 1961 through November 30, 1962

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4635913

A pocket-size radiac instrument was designed to operate with silicon p-- i--n junction detectors. These detectors are sensitive to both x or gamma radiation and also to charged particles including alpha particles. The electronic system can read out counting rates in the range of zero to 100,000 counts/min in four linear decades. A large, flat detector is mounted into the back surface of the case. A plug-in probe using a cylindrical detector is furnished for possible insertion into small volumes in the body or in open wounds. Both detectors are protected by a silicon monoxide coating. Discrimination between pulses due to alpha or other heavily ionizing particles and those due to photons or betas is provided. The unit, therefore, combines two separate sensitive volumes: (1) A large area detector (approximately 6 sq. cm. which can detect very low levels of radioactivity. This detector will allow a monitor to scan the surface and clothing of persons suspected of radioactive contamination. (2) A probe, which is 3 mm in diameter at the tip and 3 feet in length, which plugs into a receptacle on the top of the case, and is designed so that it can be sterilized and therefore can be inserted directly into an open wound. Absolute sensitivity over that reported can be increased if discrimination between heavily ionizing particles and photon radiation is eliminated. (auth)

Research Organization:
Hughes Research Labs. Div. of Hughes Aircraft co., Malibu, Calif. Page(s): 25
NSA Number:
NSA-17-036139
OSTI ID:
4635913
Report Number(s):
AD-295747
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English