Apparatus for detecting alpha radiation in difficult access areas
Abstract
An electrostatic alpha radiation detector for measuring alpha radiation emitted from inside an enclosure comprising an electrically conductive expandable electrode for insertion into the enclosure. After insertion, the electrically conductive expandable electrode is insulated from the enclosure and defines a decay cavity between the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure so that air ions generated in the decay cavity are electrostatically captured by the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure when an electric potential is applied between the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure. Indicator means are attached to the electrically conductive expandable electrode for indicating an electrical current produced by generation of the air ions generated in the decay cavity by collisions between air molecules and the alpha particles emitted from the enclosure. A voltage source is connected between the indicator means and the electrically conductive enclosure for creating an electric field between the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure.
- Inventors:
-
- Santa Fe, NM
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 871131
- Patent Number(s):
- 5663567
- Application Number:
- 08/657744
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; detecting; alpha; radiation; difficult; access; electrostatic; detector; measuring; emitted; inside; enclosure; comprising; electrically; conductive; expandable; electrode; insertion; insulated; defines; decay; cavity; air; generated; electrostatically; captured; electric; potential; applied; indicator; means; attached; indicating; electrical; current; produced; generation; collisions; molecules; particles; voltage; source; connected; creating; field; current produced; conductive enclosure; decay cavity; voltage source; electric field; electrically conductive; radiation detector; electrical current; alpha radiation; electric potential; alpha particle; alpha particles; radiation emitted; expandable electrode; particles emitted; detecting alpha; air molecules; /250/
Citation Formats
Steadman, Peter, and MacArthur, Duncan W. Apparatus for detecting alpha radiation in difficult access areas. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Steadman, Peter, & MacArthur, Duncan W. Apparatus for detecting alpha radiation in difficult access areas. United States.
Steadman, Peter, and MacArthur, Duncan W. Tue .
"Apparatus for detecting alpha radiation in difficult access areas". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871131.
@article{osti_871131,
title = {Apparatus for detecting alpha radiation in difficult access areas},
author = {Steadman, Peter and MacArthur, Duncan W},
abstractNote = {An electrostatic alpha radiation detector for measuring alpha radiation emitted from inside an enclosure comprising an electrically conductive expandable electrode for insertion into the enclosure. After insertion, the electrically conductive expandable electrode is insulated from the enclosure and defines a decay cavity between the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure so that air ions generated in the decay cavity are electrostatically captured by the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure when an electric potential is applied between the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure. Indicator means are attached to the electrically conductive expandable electrode for indicating an electrical current produced by generation of the air ions generated in the decay cavity by collisions between air molecules and the alpha particles emitted from the enclosure. A voltage source is connected between the indicator means and the electrically conductive enclosure for creating an electric field between the electrically conductive expandable electrode and the enclosure.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 1997},
month = {Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 1997}
}