title: Design of a benchtop alpha particle irradiator.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radiobiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Metting
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: 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*