Version 1
: Received: 15 July 2024 / Approved: 15 July 2024 / Online: 17 July 2024 (04:49:44 CEST)
How to cite:
Kong, L.; Scott, T. B.; Day, J. C. C.; Megson-Smith, D. A. Long-Range Imaging of Alpha Emitters Using Radioluminescence in Open Environments: Daytime and Nighttime Applications. Preprints2024, 2024071264. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.1264.v1
Kong, L.; Scott, T. B.; Day, J. C. C.; Megson-Smith, D. A. Long-Range Imaging of Alpha Emitters Using Radioluminescence in Open Environments: Daytime and Nighttime Applications. Preprints 2024, 2024071264. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.1264.v1
Kong, L.; Scott, T. B.; Day, J. C. C.; Megson-Smith, D. A. Long-Range Imaging of Alpha Emitters Using Radioluminescence in Open Environments: Daytime and Nighttime Applications. Preprints2024, 2024071264. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.1264.v1
APA Style
Kong, L., Scott, T. B., Day, J. C. C., & Megson-Smith, D. A. (2024). Long-Range Imaging of Alpha Emitters Using Radioluminescence in Open Environments: Daytime and Nighttime Applications. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.1264.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Kong, L., John Charles Clifford Day and David Andrew Megson-Smith. 2024 "Long-Range Imaging of Alpha Emitters Using Radioluminescence in Open Environments: Daytime and Nighttime Applications" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.1264.v1
Abstract
Alpha emitters like plutonium pose severe health risks when ingested, damaging DNA and potentially causing cancer. Traditional detection methods require proximity within millimeters of the contamination source, presenting safety risks and operational inefficiencies. Long-range detection through alpha radioluminescence (RL) offers a promising alternative. However, most of the previous experiments have been carried out under controlled conditions that preclude the overwhelming effect of ambient light. This study demonstrates successful detection of a 3 MBq alpha emitter in an open environment using a newly developed, lightweight compact alpha camera. This camera incorporates a deep-cooled CCD and a specially designed lens system with a low f-number to maximum the signal intensity. The lens was also designed to minimize blue shift effects of filters. Nighttime imaging was achieved with a dual-filter system using a sandwich filters assembly centered at 337 nm and 343 nm for capturing alpha RL and subtracting background light, respectively. At night, the alpha source was detected from 1 meter away within one minute. The system was also evaluated under simulated urban lighting conditions. For daytime imaging, a stack of tilted 276 nm short pass filters minimized sunlight interference, enabling clear detection of the alpha source at 70 cm within 10 minutes under indirect sunlight. This research not only underscores the viability of long-range optical detection of alpha emitters for environmental monitoring and scientific research but also highlights its ability to enhance nuclear safety and public health in real-world settings.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
