title: Design, spectrum measurements and simulations for a 238Pu alpha-particle irradiator for bystander effect and genomic instability experiments.
abstract: Design, spectrum measurements and simulations for an alpha-particle irradiator for bystander effect and genomic instability experiments are presented. Measured alpha-particle energy spectra were used to confirm the characteristics of the source of the irradiator specified by the manufacturer of the source. The spectra were measured in vacuum with a high-resolution spectrometer and simulated with an AASI Monte Carlo code. As a next step, we simulated alpha-particle energy spectra at the target plane of the irradiator for three different source-to-target distances. In these simulations, helium was used as the medium between the source and the exit window of the irradiator; its pressure and temperature corresponded to those of the ambient air. Mean energies and full-widths at half-maximum (FWHM) were calculated for the three different helium gas tracks.
authors.affiliation: STUK-Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority P. O. Box 14, FIN-00881 Helsinki, Finland. arvi.hakanen@stuk.fi
authors.forename: Arvi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakanen
authors.forename: Teemu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siiskonen
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pöllänen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosunen
authors.forename: Asko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turunen
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Belyakov
mesh_terms: D000512:Alpha Particles; D024201:Bystander Effect / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011005:Plutonium; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011005:Plutonium; D004247:DNA