1 / 23

Nuclear Radiation Basics

Nuclear Radiation Basics. Contents. What is Radiation? Instruments that Measure Nuclear Radiation Nuclear Radiation Sensors International Medcom Products. What is Radiation?. What is Radiation?. Radiation is energy transmitted as particles or waves. Ionizing radiation

bart
Download Presentation

Nuclear Radiation Basics

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Nuclear Radiation Basics

  2. Contents • What is Radiation? • Instruments that Measure Nuclear Radiation • Nuclear Radiation Sensors • International Medcom Products International Medcom 707-823-0336

  3. What is Radiation? International Medcom 707-823-0336

  4. What is Radiation? • Radiation is energy transmitted as particles or waves. • Ionizing radiation • Nuclear radiation: alpha, beta, gamma, neutron and x-ray • Non-ionizing radiation • Visible light • Infrared light • Microwaves • Radio waves • Radar International Medcom 707-823-0336

  5. International Medcom 707-823-0336

  6. What is Radiation? α • Alpha particles • Positively charged particles (2 protons + 2 neutrons) • Relatively heavy in mass • Cannot penetrate very far but the radionuclides that emit them can be carried by wind • Can be stopped by paper • Energy ranges from 2.5 MeV to 5.5 MeV • Sample emitters: Plutonium 239 and Americium 241 International Medcom 707-823-0336

  7. What is Radiation? β • Beta particles • Negatively charged particles • Relatively light in mass • Can penetrate more deeply than alpha particles • Can be stopped by a few millimeters of aluminum • Energy ranges from 7 keV to 2.2 MeV • Sample emitters: Carbon 14 and Strontium 90 International Medcom 707-823-0336

  8. What is Radiation? γ • Gamma rays • Waves that have no charge and no mass • Can be much more penetrating than alpha or beta particles • Most can be stopped by thick concrete or lead • Energy ranges from 10 keV to several MeV • Sample emitters: Barium 140 and Cobalt 60 International Medcom 707-823-0336

  9. What is Radiation? • X-rays • Waves that have no charge or mass • Characteristics are the same as gamma rays • Difference: x-rays are generally man made and gamma rays occur naturally International Medcom 707-823-0336

  10. What is Radiation? • Neutron particles • No charge • Relatively high mass • More penetrating than alpha and beta particles but less penetrating than gamma rays • Can be stopped by thick concrete or lead • Energy ranges from 40 keV to 35 MeV • Sample emitters: Plutonium 239 (man-made) International Medcom 707-823-0336

  11. Instruments that Measure Nuclear Radiation International Medcom 707-823-0336

  12. Instruments that Measure Nuclear Radiation • Rate Meter • Measures amount of radiation per time period continuously with frequent updating • Users • First responders • Laboratory workers • Homeowners • Some have a manual or pre-set alarm function • Most have an analog or digital readout International Medcom 707-823-0336

  13. Instruments that Measure Nuclear Radiation • Dosimeter • Measures the dose of radiation a person receives over a period of time • Active dosimeters can be read in real time • Passive dosimeters cannot be read in real time • Users • nuclear reactor staff • researchers • Some active dosimeters have a manual or pre-set alarm function International Medcom 707-823-0336

  14. Instruments that Measure Nuclear Radiation • Multi-Channel Analyzer or Spectrometer • Determines what radionuclides are present and in what amounts • Users • Border control • Shipping • First responders (when abnormal radiation levels are detected) • Readout is on a built in screen or connected to a computer with special software International Medcom 707-823-0336

  15. Nuclear Radiation Sensors International Medcom 707-823-0336

  16. Nuclear Radiation Sensors • Geiger-Mueller Tube (GM tube) • Can detect alpha (with a mica window), beta, gamma and x-rays • Can detect energy levels between 15 keV and 10 MeV • Advantages • Small • Lightweight • Relatively inexpensive International Medcom 707-823-0336

  17. Nuclear Radiation Sensors • Energy Compensated Geiger-Mueller Tubes • Detect only gamma and x-rays • Can typically detect energy levels between 100 keV and 10 MeV • Disadvantages • Heavier than standard GM tube devices • More expensive than standard GM tube devices • Cannot detect alpha or beta or low energy gamma radiation International Medcom 707-823-0336

  18. Nuclear Radiation Sensors • Scintillation Sensors • Typically detects gamma and x-rays, but some can detect alpha and beta radiation • Can detect energy levels between 10 keV and 10 MeV, usually not in one sensor • Disadvantages • More expensive than GM tubes • Must know in advance what you are trying to detect to get the right energy range device International Medcom 707-823-0336

  19. Nuclear Radiation Sensors • Other sensors • Ionization chambers • Solid state (including Cadmium Telluride and Silicon) • Proportional counters • Thermoluminescent dosimeter and film badges International Medcom 707-823-0336

  20. International Medcom Products International Medcom 707-823-0336

  21. International Medcom Products • Radalert 50 • Rate meter • Geiger-Mueller sensor with ½ inch mica end window • LCD • Adjustable alert feature • 1 minute update • Audible chirp for each count (can be muted) • 9 volt battery International Medcom 707-823-0336

  22. International Medcom Products • Inspector • Rate Meter • 2 inch pancake tube Geiger-Mueller sensor with mica window • LCD • 3 second update • Audible chirp for each count (can be muted) • 9 volt battery International Medcom 707-823-0336

  23. International Medcom Products • Inspector EXP • Rate Meter • External probe has 2 inch pancake tube Geiger-Muller sensor with mica window • LCD • 3 second update • Audible chirp for each count (can be muted) • 9 volt battery International Medcom 707-823-0336

More Related