Imaging alpha particle detector
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting and imaging alpha particles sources is described. A conducting coated high voltage electrode (1) and a tungsten wire grid (2) constitute a diode configuration discharge generator for electrons dislodged from atoms or molecules located in between these electrodes when struck by alpha particles from a source (3) to be quantitatively or qualitatively analyzed. A thin polyester film window (4) allows the alpha particles to pass into the gas enclosure and the combination of the glass electrode, grid and window is light transparent such that the details of the source which is imaged with high resolution and sensitivity by the sparks produced can be observed visually as well. The source can be viewed directly, electronically counted or integrated over time using photographic methods. A significant increase in sensitivity over other alpha particle detectors is observed, and the device has very low sensitivity to gamma or beta emissions which might otherwise appear as noise on the alpha particle signal.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865504
- Patent Number(s):
- 4527064
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- imaging; alpha; particle; detector; method; apparatus; detecting; particles; sources; described; conducting; coated; voltage; electrode; tungsten; wire; grid; constitute; diode; configuration; discharge; generator; electrons; dislodged; atoms; molecules; located; electrodes; struck; source; quantitatively; qualitatively; analyzed; polyester; film; window; allows; pass; gas; enclosure; combination; glass; light; transparent; details; imaged; resolution; sensitivity; sparks; produced; observed; visually; viewed; directly; electronically; counted; integrated; time; photographic; methods; significant; increase; detectors; device; gamma; beta; emissions; otherwise; appear; noise; signal; significant increase; particle detectors; light transparent; alpha particle; alpha particles; particle detector; voltage electrode; wire grid; gas enclosure; film window; imaging alpha; beta emissions; discharge generator; /250/
Citation Formats
Anderson, David F. Imaging alpha particle detector. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Anderson, David F. Imaging alpha particle detector. United States.
Anderson, David F. Tue .
"Imaging alpha particle detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865504.
@article{osti_865504,
title = {Imaging alpha particle detector},
author = {Anderson, David F},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus for detecting and imaging alpha particles sources is described. A conducting coated high voltage electrode (1) and a tungsten wire grid (2) constitute a diode configuration discharge generator for electrons dislodged from atoms or molecules located in between these electrodes when struck by alpha particles from a source (3) to be quantitatively or qualitatively analyzed. A thin polyester film window (4) allows the alpha particles to pass into the gas enclosure and the combination of the glass electrode, grid and window is light transparent such that the details of the source which is imaged with high resolution and sensitivity by the sparks produced can be observed visually as well. The source can be viewed directly, electronically counted or integrated over time using photographic methods. A significant increase in sensitivity over other alpha particle detectors is observed, and the device has very low sensitivity to gamma or beta emissions which might otherwise appear as noise on the alpha particle signal.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}