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Title: Background canceling surface alpha detector

Abstract

A background canceling long range alpha detector which is capable of providing output proportional to both the alpha radiation emitted from a surface and to radioactive gas emanating from the surface. The detector operates by using an electrical field between first and second signal planes, an enclosure and the surface or substance to be monitored for alpha radiation. The first and second signal planes are maintained at the same voltage with respect to the electrically conductive enclosure, reducing leakage currents. In the presence of alpha radiation and radioactive gas decay, the signal from the first signal plane is proportional to both the surface alpha radiation and to the airborne radioactive gas, while the signal from the second signal plane is proportional only to the airborne radioactive gas. The difference between these two signals is proportional to the surface alpha radiation alone.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
  2. Ojo Caliente, NM
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
870460
Patent Number(s):
US 5525804
Application Number:
08/382333
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
background; canceling; surface; alpha; detector; range; capable; providing; output; proportional; radiation; emitted; radioactive; gas; emanating; operates; electrical; field; signal; planes; enclosure; substance; monitored; maintained; voltage; respect; electrically; conductive; reducing; leakage; currents; presence; decay; plane; airborne; difference; signals; signal plane; leakage currents; conductive enclosure; electrical field; electrically conductive; alpha radiation; radiation emitted; radioactive gas; leakage current; alpha detector; range alpha; output proportional; gas emanating; background canceling; /250/

Citation Formats

MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, and Bounds, John A. Background canceling surface alpha detector. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, & Bounds, John A. Background canceling surface alpha detector. United States.
MacArthur, Duncan W, Allander, Krag S, and Bounds, John A. 1996. "Background canceling surface alpha detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870460.
@article{osti_870460,
title = {Background canceling surface alpha detector},
author = {MacArthur, Duncan W and Allander, Krag S and Bounds, John A},
abstractNote = {A background canceling long range alpha detector which is capable of providing output proportional to both the alpha radiation emitted from a surface and to radioactive gas emanating from the surface. The detector operates by using an electrical field between first and second signal planes, an enclosure and the surface or substance to be monitored for alpha radiation. The first and second signal planes are maintained at the same voltage with respect to the electrically conductive enclosure, reducing leakage currents. In the presence of alpha radiation and radioactive gas decay, the signal from the first signal plane is proportional to both the surface alpha radiation and to the airborne radioactive gas, while the signal from the second signal plane is proportional only to the airborne radioactive gas. The difference between these two signals is proportional to the surface alpha radiation alone.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/870460}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}