Abstract
Portable survey instrumentation has always been an integral part of most operational health physics programs. The ability to detect and prevent the spread of contamination is one of the most significant roles of portable survey meters, and manufacturers are continually attempting to improve the sensitivity and usefulness of such equipment. A major concern of instrument makers deals with the sensitivity of probes to alpha emitting radionuclides, which, due to extremely short ranges, are very difficult to detect with survey meters. In response to these concerns several probes have been designed with an increased sensitivity to alpha radiation, combining larger sensitive surface areas with very thin windows to increase detector efficiency. Two such probes were evaluated in this study, the 350A Alpha Probe of Dosimeter Corporation and the AB100 Scintillator Probe produced by Harshaw Bicron. As an additional comparison, a Ludlum Model 44-9 (Pancake) GM Probe was also evaluated, since it has served as an industry standard for many years and continues to be used frequently. The evaluation consisted of several tests concerning response to radiation under various laboratory conditions and also under actual conditions, to determine overall probe performance.
Sackett, Gregory Duane (1995). Evaluation of probes used to detect alpha radiation. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1995 -THESIS -S23.