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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Optical ionization detector

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5051665
An optical ionization detector wherein a beam of light is split so that one arm passes through a fiber optics and the other arm passes through a gas-filled region, and uses interferometry to detect density changes in a gas when charged particles pass through it. The gas-filled region of the detector is subjected to a high electric field and as a charged particle traverses this gas region electrons are freed from the cathode and accelerated so as to generate an electron avalanche which is collected on the anode. The gas density is effected by the electron avalanche formation and if the index or refraction is proportional to the gas density the index will change accordingly. The detector uses this index change by modulating the one arm of the split light beam passing through the gas, with respect to the other arm that is passed through the fiber optic. Upon recombining of the beams, interference fringe changes as a function of the index change indicates the passage of charged particles through the gaseous medium. 3 figures.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
Patent Number(s):
A; US 5298755
Application Number:
PPN: US 8-011635
OSTI ID:
5051665
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English