Study of neutralization of 218 Po ions by small ion recombination in O2, Ar, and N2

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Health Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199108000-00004· OSTI ID:5327910

Shi, B L; Hopke, P K ^[1]

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1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (USA)

Three mechanisms of neutralization of Po(+)--electron transfer, electron scavenging, and small ion recombination--have previously been suggested. Considerable work has been conducted on the first two mechanisms. However, little information about small ion recombination is available. In the present study, this mechanism was studied by examining the neutralization rates of different Rn concentrations in N2, Ar, and O2 with the aid of a continuous Rn progeny monitoring system. The results showed that the neutralization rates in the three gases are of the order 1-4 s-1 at high Rn concentrations (higher than 40,000 Bq m-3). A linear relationship between the neutralization rate and the square root of Rn concentration (from 40,000 Bq m-3 to 810,000 Bq m-3) was obtained. Neutralization rates were higher in the gas with lower ionization potential. Further, the existence of a neutralization rate plateau at high Rn concentrations was strongly suggested.

• OSTI ID: 5327910
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Health Physics; (United States) Vol. 61:2; ISSN 0017-9078; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ARGON
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BUILDINGS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
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HEAVY NUCLEI
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IONIZATION
IONIZATION POTENTIAL
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MONITORING
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
OXYGEN
POLLUTION
POLONIUM 218
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS