Physics and Application of Superheated Drop (Bubble) Detectors
Detectors based on emulsions of overexpanded halocarbon droplets in tissue-equivalent aqueous gels or soft polymers, known as superheated-drop or bubble-damage detectors, have been used in radiation detection, dosimetry, and spectrometry for more than two decades. Recent technological advances have led to the introduction of several instruments for individual and area monitoring: passive integrating meters based on the optical or volumetric registration of the bubbles and active counters detecting bubble nucleations acoustically. The advances in the instrumentation are matched by the progress made in the production of stable and well-specified emulsions. A variety of halocarbons are employed in the formulation of the detectors, and this permits a wide range of applications. In particular, halocarbons with a moderate degree of superheat, i.e., a relatively small difference between their operating temperature and boiling point, can be used in neutron dosimetry and spectrometry because they are only nucleated by energetic heavy ions such as those produced by fast neutrons. More recently, halocarbons with an elevated degree of superheat have been used to produce emulsions that nucleate with much smaller energy deposition and detect low linear energy transfer (LET) radiations, such as photons and electrons.
- Research Organization:
- Yale University, New Haven, CT (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- none (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 786827
- Report Number(s):
- ISSN 0003-018X; CODEN TANSAO; ISSN 0003-018X; CODEN TANSAO; TRN: US0109331
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2000 International Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology: Supporting Sustainable Development Worldwide (2000 ANS Winter Meeting), Washington, DC (US), 11/12/2000--11/16/2000; Other Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Volume 83; PBD: 12 Nov 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RADIATION DETECTORS
BUBBLES
NEUTRON DOSIMETRY
NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
EMULSIONS
DESIGN
RADIATION DETECTION
NEUTRON SPECTROMETERS
NEUTRON DETECTION
ACOUSTIC DETECTION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
SUPERHEATING
ELECTRON DETECTION
GAMMA DETECTION