Radioactivity measurements using storage phosphor technology
- NeuTek, Darnestown, MD (United States)
- Advanced Technologies and Labs. International, Rockville, MD (United States)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
We propose to apply a recently developed charged particle radiation imaging concept in bio-medical research for fast, cost-effective characterization of radionuclides in contaminated sites and environmental samples. This concept utilizes sensors with storage photostimulable phosphor (SPP) technology as radiation detectors. They exhibit high sensitivity for all types of radiation and the response is linear over a wide dynamic range (>10{sup 5}), essential for quantitative analysis. These new sensors have an Active area of up to 35 cm x 43 cm in size and a spatial resolution as fine as 50 {mu}m. They offer considerable promise as large area detectors for fast characterization of radionuclides with an added ability to locate and identify hot spots. Tests with SPP sensors have found that a single alpha particle effect can be observed and an alpha field of 100 dpm/100 cm{sup 2} or a beta activity of 0.1 dpm/mm{sup 2} or gamma radiation of few {mu}R/hr can all be measured in minutes. Radioactive isotopes can further be identified by energy discrimination which is accomplished by placing different thicknesses of filter material in front of the sensor plate. For areas with possible neutron contamination, the sensors can be coupled to a neutron to charged particle converter screen, such as dysprosium foil to detect neutrons. Our study has shown that this approach can detect a neutron flux of 1 n/cm{sup 2}s or lower, again with only minutes of exposure time. The utilization of these new sensors can significantly reduce the time and cost required for many site characterization and environmental monitoring tasks. The {open_quotes}exposure{close_quotes} time for mapping radioactivity in an environmental sample may be in terms of minutes and offer a positional resolution not obtainable with presently used counting equipment. The resultant digital image will lend itself to ready analysis.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC), WV (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AR21-95MC32090
- OSTI ID:
- 229554
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/METC-96/1021-Vol.2; CONF-9510108-Vol.2; ON: DE96000552; TRN: 96:001840-0007
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 47; Journal Issue: 9-10; Conference: Environmental technology development through industry partnership, Morgantown, WV (United States), 3-5 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the environmental technology through industry partnership conference. Volume 2; Kothari, V.P.; PB: 266 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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