Event counting alpha detector

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870584

Bolton, Richard D ^[1]; MacArthur, Duncan W ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

An electrostatic detector for atmospheric radon or other weak sources of alpha radiation. In one embodiment, nested enclosures are insulated from one another, open at the top, and have a high voltage pin inside and insulated from the inside enclosure. An electric field is produced between the pin and the inside enclosure. Air ions produced by collision with alpha particles inside the decay volume defined by the inside enclosure are attracted to the pin and the inner enclosure. With low alpha concentrations, individual alpha events can be measured to indicate the presence of radon or other alpha radiation. In another embodiment, an electrical field is produced between parallel plates which are insulated from a single decay cavity enclosure.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Regents of University California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5550381
• OSTI ID: 870584
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

event
counting
alpha
detector
electrostatic
atmospheric
radon
weak
sources
radiation
embodiment
nested
enclosures
insulated
top
voltage
inside
enclosure
electric
field
produced
air
collision
particles
decay
volume
defined
attracted
inner
concentrations
individual
events
measured
indicate
presence
electrical
parallel
plates
single
cavity
decay cavity
volume defined
electrical field
electric field
alpha radiation
alpha particle
alpha particles
alpha detector
atmospheric radon
parallel plates
parallel plate
inner enclosure
event count
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