Radon detection
Abstract
A detector for atmospheric radon using a long range alpha detector as its sensing element. An electrostatic filter removes ions from ambient air, while allowing radon atoms to pass into a decay cavity. Here, radon atoms are allowed to decay, creating air ions. These air ions are drawn by a fan through a second electrostatic filter which can be activated or deactivated, and into the long range alpha detector. With the second electrostatic filter activated, no air ions are allowed to pass, and the signal output from the long range alpha detector consists of only the electronic background. With the second electrostatic filter deactivated, air ions and cosmic rays will be detected. The cosmic ray contribution can be minimized by shielding.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Ojo Caliente, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869135
- Patent Number(s):
- 5281824
- Assignee:
- United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- radon; detection; detector; atmospheric; range; alpha; sensing; element; electrostatic; filter; removes; ambient; air; allowing; atoms; pass; decay; cavity; allowed; creating; drawn; fan; activated; deactivated; signal; output; consists; electronic; background; cosmic; rays; detected; ray; contribution; minimized; shielding; signal output; decay cavity; electrostatic filter; ambient air; sensing element; alpha detector; range alpha; atmospheric radon; radon atoms; cosmic rays; allowing radon; /250/
Citation Formats
MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, and Bounds, John A. Radon detection. United States: N. p., 1994.
Web.
MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, & Bounds, John A. Radon detection. United States.
MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, and Bounds, John A. Sat .
"Radon detection". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869135.
@article{osti_869135,
title = {Radon detection},
author = {MacArthur, Duncan W and Allander, Krag S and Bounds, John A},
abstractNote = {A detector for atmospheric radon using a long range alpha detector as its sensing element. An electrostatic filter removes ions from ambient air, while allowing radon atoms to pass into a decay cavity. Here, radon atoms are allowed to decay, creating air ions. These air ions are drawn by a fan through a second electrostatic filter which can be activated or deactivated, and into the long range alpha detector. With the second electrostatic filter activated, no air ions are allowed to pass, and the signal output from the long range alpha detector consists of only the electronic background. With the second electrostatic filter deactivated, air ions and cosmic rays will be detected. The cosmic ray contribution can be minimized by shielding.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {1}
}