title: Optical detection of radon decay in air.
abstract: An optical radon detection method is presented. Radon decay is directly measured by observing the secondary radiolumines cence light that alpha particles excite in air, and the selectivity of coincident photon detection is further enhanced with online pulse-shape analysis. The sensitivity of a demonstration device was 6.5 cps/Bq/l and the minimum detectable concentration was 12 Bq/m(3) with a 1 h integration time. The presented technique paves the way for optical approaches in rapid radon detec tion, and it can be applied beyond radon to the analysis of any alpha-active sample which can be placed in the measurement chamber.
authors: STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, P.O. Box 14, FI-00881 Helsinki, Finland.|Tampere University of Technology, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Sand
authors: STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, P.O. Box 14, FI-00881 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Sakari
authors: S
authors: Ihantola
authors: STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, P.O. Box 14, FI-00881 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Kari
authors: K
authors: Peräjärvi
authors: STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, P.O. Box 14, FI-00881 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Harri
authors: H
authors: Toivonen
authors: Tampere University of Technology, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors: Juha
authors: J
authors: Toivonen