TY - JOUR

T1 - Novel optical technologies for emergency preparedness and response

T2 - Mapping contaminations with alpha-emitting radionuclides

AU - Luchkov, Maksym

AU - Dangendorf, Volker

AU - Giesen, Ulrich

AU - Langner, Frank

AU - Olaru, Claudia

AU - Zadehrafi, Mastaneh

AU - Klose, Annika

AU - Kalmankoski, Kim

AU - Sand, Johan

AU - Ihantola, Sakari

AU - Toivonen, Harri

AU - Walther, Clemens

AU - Röttger, Stefan

AU - Ioan, Mihail Razvan

AU - Toivonen, Juha

AU - Krasniqi, Faton S.

N1 - Funding Information: The project 19ENV02 RemoteALPHA has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme . 19ENV02 RemoteALPHA denotes the EMPIR project reference. F. S. K. and V. D. would like to thank I. Kröger (PTB) and P. Sperfeld (PTB) for providing the PTB-calibrated array spectroradiometer and support in the evaluation of the radioluminescence spectra. The authors would like to thank also O. Döhr, T. Heldt, E. Holland and J. Pieper for the operation of the PTB cyclotron.

PY - 2023/2

Y1 - 2023/2

N2 - Radiological emergencies involving an accidental or deliberate dispersion of alpha-emitting radionuclides in the environment can cause significant damage to humans and societies in general. Currently, there is a metrology gap in managing such emergencies due to the lack of detectors that can measure alpha particles at distances greater than their range in air: most conventional alpha detectors are only effective when placed just a few centimeters above the contaminated area. This paper presents the development and testing of lens based optical detection systems that utilize alpha particle-induced ultraviolet (UV) luminescence of air, known as alpha radioluminescence. Telescopes based on fused silica and Poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate) (PMMA) Fresnel lenses were investigated for their usability in facilitating emergency management related to alpha-emitting radionuclides. Careful matching of the diameter and focal length of the receiving optics, the response of the photocathode, and the passband of the filter allows detection sensitivities as high as 34s−1MBq−1 at 2m source-to-detector distance and background count rate of about 3s−1 in the UV-C spectral region, and suppression of daylight background count rate down to 16s−1. By flushing the source with nitrogen (N2) containing trace amounts of nitric oxide (NO), a groundbreaking sensitivity of 1.3×105s−1MBq−1 has been achieved, allowing detection limits as low as 100Bq with room lighting on, and 70Bq in a dark environment. In the UV-A spectral region, a detection limit of 4kBq could be achieved in a dark environment. These optical detection systems are aimed to facilitate a rapid, coordinated, and effective response in emergency situations involving the release of alpha-emitting radionuclides by mounting them on a tripod or an unmanned aerial device (UAV).

AB - Radiological emergencies involving an accidental or deliberate dispersion of alpha-emitting radionuclides in the environment can cause significant damage to humans and societies in general. Currently, there is a metrology gap in managing such emergencies due to the lack of detectors that can measure alpha particles at distances greater than their range in air: most conventional alpha detectors are only effective when placed just a few centimeters above the contaminated area. This paper presents the development and testing of lens based optical detection systems that utilize alpha particle-induced ultraviolet (UV) luminescence of air, known as alpha radioluminescence. Telescopes based on fused silica and Poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate) (PMMA) Fresnel lenses were investigated for their usability in facilitating emergency management related to alpha-emitting radionuclides. Careful matching of the diameter and focal length of the receiving optics, the response of the photocathode, and the passband of the filter allows detection sensitivities as high as 34s−1MBq−1 at 2m source-to-detector distance and background count rate of about 3s−1 in the UV-C spectral region, and suppression of daylight background count rate down to 16s−1. By flushing the source with nitrogen (N2) containing trace amounts of nitric oxide (NO), a groundbreaking sensitivity of 1.3×105s−1MBq−1 has been achieved, allowing detection limits as low as 100Bq with room lighting on, and 70Bq in a dark environment. In the UV-A spectral region, a detection limit of 4kBq could be achieved in a dark environment. These optical detection systems are aimed to facilitate a rapid, coordinated, and effective response in emergency situations involving the release of alpha-emitting radionuclides by mounting them on a tripod or an unmanned aerial device (UAV).

KW - Emergency preparedness

KW - Lens-based detection systems

KW - Optical detection of alpha emitters

KW - Radioluminescence

KW - UV-A

KW - UV-C

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144408270&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.nima.2022.167895

DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2022.167895

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85144408270

VL - 1047

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

SN - 0168-9002

M1 - 167895

ER -