Portable high sensitivity Rn-222 detector with an Si traceable calibration
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Date
2022-11-29
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South Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Association
Abstract
Among the key limitations of “top-down” techniques such as the Radon Tracer Method to characterise local- to regional-scale emissions of greenhouse gases is reliable representation of the spatial and temporal variability in radon concentrations and fluxes (Röttger et al. 2021; Levin et al. 2021). Furthermore, the utility of complementary outdoor radon monitoring for the identification and characterisation of radon priority areas is also becoming more widely recognised. As such, the availability of reliable and accurate monitors of outdoor radon concentration (1≤ARn<100 Bq.m-3) is of significant interest to both the climate and radiation protection research communities. Until recently, however, calibrations traceable to the International System of Units (SI) were only available for concentrations ≥100 Bq.m-3. Among the key objectives of the EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon Project§ are the development low-activity radon sources to enable SI traceable calibrations between (1 – 100) Bq.m-3 and portable radon monitors capable of reliably measuring radon concentrations in this range and transferring an SI traceable calibration to other radon monitors. Here we present the fruits of a collaboration between ANSTO and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) as part of traceRadon, namely, a portable two-filter dual-flow-loop radon detector with a detection limit of <0.2 Bq.m-3 and 30-minute temporal resolution. In conjunction with novel calibration sources developed by PTB, the compact size and low sampling flow rate of this monitor enable SI traceable calibration under laboratory and field conditions. The new detector (Chambers et al. 2022), sources (Mertes et al. 2022) and calibration method (Röttger et al. 2021) are introduced, measurement characteristics investigated, and an example provided of a calibration transfer from the portable monitor to a separate monitor operating under field conditions. The portability, reliability and sensitivity of this portable detector will facilitate the harmonization of radon monitoring being conducted in radiation protection and climate research station networks globally.
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Keywords
Radon 222, Silicon, Calibration, Tracer techniques, Monitoring, Radiation detectors, Radiation protection
Citation
Chambers, S., Röttger, S., & Griffiths, A. D. (2022). Portable high sensitivity Rn-222 detector with an Si traceable calibration. Paper presented to SPERA 2022 - Connecting people, developing solutions for a changing environment, Christchurch, New Zealand, 28-30 November 2022. (pp. 29). Retrieved from: https://au-admin.eventscloud.com/file_uploads/baa6bb17538b457fbd436f1552075bea_SPERA2022e-handbook.pdf