Alpha pulse height distributions with ZnS(Ag) scintillator

Area of Science:

• Nuclear instrumentation
• Environmental monitoring

Background:

• Accurate measurement of radon-222 (222Rn) is crucial for radiation safety and environmental monitoring.
• ZnS(Ag) scintillator flasks coupled with photomultiplier tubes are highly accurate 222Rn detectors.
• Regular calibration and system checks are essential to maintain detector accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify a reliable alpha source for calibrating 222Rn scintillation detection systems.
• To compare pulse height distributions from various alpha sources with those from actual 222Rn samples.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of pulse height distributions from four different alpha sources.
• Utilized a 100 cm3 ZnS(Ag) scintillation flask containing 222Rn as a reference.
• Evaluated alpha sources including a sealed flask with uranium-ore.

Main Results:

• Pulse height distributions from different alpha sources varied significantly.
• A sealed flask containing uranium-ore closely reproduced the pulse height distribution of 222Rn in a similar flask.
• This uranium-ore source provides a suitable calibration standard for 222Rn scintillation detectors.

Conclusions:

• Uranium-ore in a ZnS(Ag) scintillator flask is an effective alpha source for calibrating 222Rn detectors.
• This method ensures the continued accuracy of 222Rn measurements, vital for health and environmental assessments.