Event counting alpha detector
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870584
- Patent Number(s):
- 5550381
- Assignee:
- Regents of University California (Oakland, CA)
- 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:
- 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; /250/
Citation Formats
Bolton, Richard D, and MacArthur, Duncan W. Event counting alpha detector. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Bolton, Richard D, & MacArthur, Duncan W. Event counting alpha detector. United States.
Bolton, Richard D, and MacArthur, Duncan W. Mon .
"Event counting alpha detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870584.
@article{osti_870584,
title = {Event counting alpha detector},
author = {Bolton, Richard D and MacArthur, Duncan W},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}