Absolute humidity measurement utilizing alpha-ray absorption.
Changes in air density due to humidity were measured by a scintillation detector with alpha-particles. The distance between the scintillator and an alpha-ray source of 241 Am, 3.7 MBq (100 microCi), was fixed at 25 mm which was a little shorter than the range of alpha-particles from the source. The measured absolute humidities were in a range of 7.9 g/m3 to 52.2 g/m3 at temperatures of 35 degrees C and 45 degrees C and under atmospheric pressure. The counting rate of alpha-particles in an absolute humidity of 31.7 g/m3 (80% in relative humidity) at 35 degrees C increased 28% compared with that in dry air. From experimental results and theoretical calculation, the counting rate difference between humid air and dry air was shown to be almost proportional to the absolute humidity in air. The absolute humidity can be measured with an accuracy of +/- 3 g/m3, that is +/- 5% in relative humidity at 45 degrees C.
D000512:Alpha Particles; D000576:Americium; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D006813:Humidity; D012588:Scintillation Counting / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
D000576:Americium