Measurement of surface alpha contamination using electret ion chambers

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199906000-00010· OSTI ID:6323372

Dua, S K; Biswas, S K; Szerszen, P; Boudreaux, J; Ebadian, M A ^[1]

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1. Florida International Univ., Miami, FL (United States)

Electret ion chambers are inexpensive, light-weight, commercially available, passive charge-integrating devices for accurate measurement of different radiations. Performance of electret ion chambers for surface alpha contamination measurement was evaluated. Ion chambers of two types and electrets of three thicknesses were used for the study. Calibration of the electret ion chambers was performed using reference alpha standards of different energies and radioactivities. Effects of various parameters such as chamber dimensions, electret thickness, alpha particle energy, position of alpha source from the chamber centerline, source localized or uniformly distributed, level of alpha contamination, Mylar window covering the chamber, and ambient radon and gamma radiation on the response of the electret ion chambers were determined. Suitable combinations of chambers and electrets to measure surface alpha contamination were determined.

• OSTI ID: 6323372
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Vol. 76:6; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALPHA DETECTION
CALIBRATION
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
DETECTION
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRETS
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION MONITORS
SURFACE CONTAMINATION MONITORS
TESTING