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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
14:53
In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis
Published on: February 3, 2018
7.7K
Performance of an in-situ alpha spectrometer.
1STUK-Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, P.O. Box 14, FI-00881 Helsinki, Finland.
Summary
New equipment effectively detects alpha and beta particles from surfaces at ambient pressure. Detection efficiencies were measured for alpha and beta radiation, with efficiencies of 0.14 for alpha and 0.07-0.19 for beta emitters.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear instrumentation
- Radiation detection
Background:
- Development of equipment for detecting alpha particles from flat surfaces at ambient air pressure.
- Importance of detecting beta particles alongside alpha particles due to overlapping applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine detection efficiencies for alpha and beta radiation using newly developed equipment.
- Evaluate the impact of a collimator on detection efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized extended-area sources emitting alpha and beta radiation for efficiency measurements.
- Employed a mixed nuclide point source emitting alpha radiation.
- Measured detection efficiencies for alpha particles (5-6 MeV) and various beta emitters.
Main Results:
- Achieved a detection efficiency of 0.14 for extended-area alpha sources (>30cm(2)).
- Determined beta emitter detection efficiencies ranging from 0.07 to 0.19, dependent on emission energies.
- Observed a reduction in detection efficiencies by up to a factor of ten when using a collimator.
Conclusions:
- The developed equipment demonstrates effective detection of both alpha and beta particles.
- Detection efficiencies are quantifiable and vary based on radiation type, energy, and source characteristics.
- Collimator usage significantly impacts detection efficiency, necessitating careful consideration in experimental design.
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