title: A Monte Carlo study of radon detection in cylindrical diffusion chambers.
abstract: The functioning of radon diffusion chambers was studied using the Monte Carlo code RAMMX developed here. The alpha particles from radon are assumed randomly produced in the volume of the cylinder, and those from the progeny are assumed to originate randomly at the cylindrical surface. The energy spectrum, the distribution of incident angles, and the distribution of path lengths of the alpha particles on the detector were obtained. These quantities vary depending on input parameters such as initial alpha particle energy, radius and depth of the diffusion chamber, detector size and atmospheric pressure. The calculated energy spectrum for both (222)Rn and (220)Rn was compared with experiment, permitting the identification of each peak and its origin, and a better understanding of radon monitoring. Three aspects not considered in previous calculations are progeny alphas coming from surfaces of the monitor, taking into account the atmospheric pressure, and including the isotope (220)Rn.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica, Ciudad Universitaria, Delegacion Coyoacan, 04520 México, D.F., México. rickards@fisica.unam.mx
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rickards
authors.forename: Jose-Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Golzarri
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa
mesh_terms: D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011886:Radon