Design of a benchtop alpha particle irradiator.
The design, construction and calibration of a convenient irradiator is described that provides controlled exposure to a uniform external source of well-characterized alpha particles at a dose-rate of 0.99 cGy min-1. The use of a precis- ion photographic shutter allows the accurate delivery of doses as low as 0.01 mGy (1 mrad) to cultured cells. Special features also include a helium environment and reciprocal collimator that permits the use of collimators with different transmission factors to achieve differing dose-rates. A simple method is described to characterize the energy spectrum of alpha particles by use of particle range as measured by track etch.
Metting
N F
NF
Laboratory of Radiobiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Koehler
A M
AM
Nagasawa
H
H
Nelson
J M
JM
Little
J B
JB
D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*