Exhalation rate study of radon/thoron in some building materials

Indoor radon/thoron have been recognised as one of the health hazards for mankind. Common building materials used for construction of houses, which are considered as major sources of these gases in indoor environment, have been studied for exhalation rate of radon/thoron. ‘Can’ technique using plastic track detector LR-115 type-II has been used for measurement. Exhalation rates for radon and thoron have been found to be varying from a minimum value of 0.024 and 29.4 Bqm⁻² h⁻¹ for cement plastered brick to a maximum value of 0.16 and 692.2 Bqm⁻² h⁻¹ for unfired brick, respectively. Exhalation rate for thoron has been found to be several times higher than that for radon. Measured exhalation rates for thoron indicate significant presence of thoron in indoor environment which is also supported by indoor measurements of thoron and its progeny.     

Triton and alpha-particle contribution from LiF converter for neutron dosimeter

A personnel neutron dosimeter prototype based on chemical and electrochemical etched CR-39 detector, combined with LiF converter, has been calibrated using an ICRP-like phantom, under a heavy-water moderated Californium source neutron spectra; A conversion factor of 1.052±126 spots cm⁻² mSv⁻¹ was obtained. The sealing properties of the detector holder showed a ten-fold reduction in radon background when it was tested in a high radon atmosphere. A convenient mechanical shock resistance was achieved in LiF converters by sintering to 11 tons pressure LiF powder at 650°C, during one hour.     

The calibration of activated charcoal detectors in a small Rn exposure chamber

Passive methods for radon measurements, especially those based on radon adsorption, require observation of proper calibration methods.

The calibration method for diffusion-barrier charcoal detectors in a small (211 dm³) radon chamber has been proposed. The theoretical dependence of radon concentration vs. time inside the chamber during the exposure of charcoal detectors has been obtained and verified experimentally. For this purpose, the chamber volume as well as diffusion and adsorption parameters of the detector were taken into consideration.

For two types of detectors the conformity of calibration factors obtained in two ways: calculated from theoretical points (550 or 683 Bqm⁻³/cps depending on detector type) and from experimental points (553 or 691 Bqm⁻³/cps), was achieved.

The proposed method makes it possible to calibrate different kinds of radon-adsorbing detectors (not only charcoal canisters) in small chambers without the necessity of using any reference, active device.     

Study of uranium, radium and radon exhalation rate in soil samples from some areas of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India using solid-state nuclear track detectors

LR-115 plastic track detectors have been used for the measurement of radon exhalation rate and radium concentration in soil samples collected from some villages of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Uranium concentration has also been determined in these soil samples using fission track technique. Radium concentration in soil samples has been found to vary from 11.54 to 26.71 BqKg⁻¹, whereas uranium concentration varies from 0.75 to 2.06 ppm. The radon exhalation rate in these samples has been found to vary from 15.16 to 35.11 mBqKg⁻¹ h⁻¹ (502.12 to 1162.64 mBqm⁻² h⁻¹).     

Measurements of radon concentration in soil gas by CR-39 detectors

A miniature diffusion chamber with a 25 × 4 × 0.5 mm CR-39 track etch detector (Pershore Moulding Ltd.), mounted on the 1.1 m long pole has been developed for radon gas measurements at 1 meter depth in the soil. For chemically etched CR-39 (7h, 70°C NaOH) and automatic track analysis the lowest detection limit of the chamber was found to be 0.5 MBq h m⁻³ and the useful exposure range from 2 to 20 MBq h m⁻³. The typical exposure time in the soil is between 2 to 14 days. The chamber was tested against the active AlphaGUARD PQ-2000 (Genitron Instruments GmbH) probe. The test yielded consistent results for soils with typical values of permeability and which are not miniature with water. The pilot measurements of radon gas in soil conducted with the miniature diffusion chambers around 48 buildings in Kraków and Silesia regions yielded an average radon concentration of 13 kBq m⁻³. The chambers are to be applied to measure radon concentration in soil before constructing new houses in order to avoid high radon risk areas.     

Spatial and temporal variations of radon concentration in soil air

The spatial and temporal variability of the soil gas radon concentration in typical soils is studied. The results obtained will be further used to predict indoor radon levels. To this end, 50 measuring points along geologic sections with known physicogeological parameters of soils were chosen. The soil gas radon concentration was measured with SSNTDs (Type III-b) at a depth of 70 cm from June to October, 2000. The radon exposure time was 72–96 h. The average radon concentration in the soil pore air for an urban area was 11 kBqm⁻³ (1.7–24 kBqm⁻³). Small-scale spatial variations in the concentration were found to lie within a narrower range. The effect of meteorological conditions on the soil gas radon concentration was investigated by performing 8 series of measurements at 5 closely spaced points in September–October, 2000. A significant correlation was found between the soil radon concentration and atmospheric pressure (K=−0.86), ambient temperature (K=0.75), and soil temperature (K=0.75).     

Prediction of low-lying oddballs in lattice QCD

We find, in a high precision Monte Carlo calculation of the glueball mass spectrum in pure SU(3) lattice gauge theory, a low-lying oddball with quantum numbers 1⁻⁺. We estimate its mass to be m(1⁻⁺)=1.68±0.18 GeV. We also measure the mass of the 0⁻⁻ oddball and find m(0⁻⁻)=2.79±0.22 GeV.     

Indoor radon survey in dwellings of some regions in Yemen

Indoor radon survey in a total of 241 dwellings, distributed in some regions of Yemen was performed, using CR-39 based radon monitors. The objective of this radon survey is to get representative indoor radon data of three regions, namely Dhamar, Taiz and Hodeidah, situated at different altitudes above sea level. The radon concentrations varied from 3 to 270 Bqm⁻³ with an average of 42 Bqm⁻³. It was found that the average radon concentration in the surveyed areas increases with altitudes. The highest average radon concentration of 59 Bqm⁻³ was found in Dhamar city while the lowest average concentration of 8 Bqm⁻³ was found in Hodeidah city.     

A passive radon dosimeter based on the combination of a track etch detector and activated charcoal

The aim of this work is to test a combination of a Makrofol track detector with a new type of charcoal (Carboxen-564) to design a personal radon dosimeter. The intention is to use this dosimeter as a personal radon dosimeter to measure the monthly radon exposure in workplaces, especially when the occupancy is not ecactly known. The proposed combination was exposed to low and high concentrations of radon in a large range of relative humidity (RH). For the optimal layer thickness, a charcoal bed of 2.2 mm, a specific track density of 5.1 tracks cm⁻²/kBq h m⁻³ was obtained. For a monthly working exposure (170 h) at an average radon concentration of 100 Bq/m³, this means 87 tracks/cm² or 10 times the background of the Makrofol detector, with a statistical uncertainty of 15%.     

Applications of a silicon photodiode detector for radon progeny measurements

An application of our developed silicon photodiode detector for radon progeny measurements is presented in this paper. It was determined the deposition velocity for free (3.6 ± 0.7) × 10⁻³ m s⁻¹ and attached (1.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹ fraction of short living radon progeny.     

Environmental gamma and radon dosimetry in Venezuela

Environmental gamma exposure and radon concentration levels measured in Venezuelan regions are presented. A new generation image analyser was used for particle track counting in CR-39 detectors. Mineral water wells from where water is supplied for massive consumption have an alpha activity around 0.450 Bq L⁻¹ and few of them have concentrations above 50 Bq L⁻¹. Coastal potable water activity is on the average around 5.3 ± 12% Bq L⁻¹. Indoor radon national average is 36 ± 5% Bq m⁻³; in two of the 36 monitored sites, the measured average is above 400 ± 5% Bq m⁻³. In air gamma dose values are between 100 and 144 nGy h⁻¹. In soil, ¹³⁷Cs concentration is around 0.5 and 10 Bq kg⁻¹ at the depth of down to 20 cm. Building materials were included in this study. ⁷Be and ¹³⁷Cs were measured in low concentration in tropical plants on Tepuy-s (sacred mountains in the Amazonas State). Geological active faults were identified by radon concentration measurements using LR-115.     

Deuterium conductivity, diffusion and implantation in Sr-doped LaYO3

A study of deuterium conductivity and diffusion in the oxide perovskite La_0.9Sr_0.1YO_3−δ is presented in this work. Deuterium ions were implanted into La_0.9Sr_0.1YO_3−δ (50 keV, 1×10¹⁶ atoms/cm²) and the corresponding deuterium depth profile was determined by SIMS and compared with a Monte Carlo simulation (TRIM96). This implant was used as a standard for the determination of deuterium concentration in a La_0.9Sr_0.1YO_3−δ sample pre-treated in D₂O atmosphere. In this way, it was fully confirmed that La_0.9Sr_0.1YO_3−δ incorporates water at high temperatures. The conductivity of La_0.9Sr_0.1YO_3−δ was measured in D₂O atmosphere and compared with other proton (deuteron) conductors. Concentration and conductivity data were used in conjunction to estimate the deuterium diffusivity and the constant of reaction of (heavy) water incorporation into LaYO₃. Some comments on the catalytic activity of this oxide are made.     

Hyperon-Nucleon bound states and electroproduction of strangeness on He

The A(e, e′K⁺)YX reaction has been investigated in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. Data were taken for Q² ≈ 0.35 and 0.5 GeV² at a beam energy of 3.245 GeV for ³He, ⁴He. The missing mass spectra are fitted with Monte Carlo simulations including Λ, Σ⁰, Σ⁻ hyperon production. Models for quasifree production are compared to the data, excess yields close to threshold are attributed to FSI. Evidence for Λ-hypernuclear bound states is seen for ^3,4He targets.     

Predictions for all processes ee → fermions + γ

The complete matrix elements for e⁺e⁻ → 4 and e⁺e⁻ → 4fγy are calculated in the Electroweak Standard Model for polarized massless fermions. The matrix elements for all final states are reduced to a few compact generic functions. Monte Carlo generators for e⁺e⁻ → 4f and e⁺e⁻ → 4fγ are constructed. We compare different treatments of the finite widths of the electroweak gauge bosons; in particular, we include a scheme with a complex gauge-boson mass that obeys all Ward identities. The detailed discussion of numerical results comprises integrated cross sections as well as photon-energy distributions for all different final states.     

低气压条件下氢气潘宁放电的模拟分析

为更好地理解低气压、弱电离条件下潘宁离子源放电过程中离子和电子的动力学行为, 通过建立二维轴对称模型, 采用粒子模拟与蒙特卡罗相结合(PIC/MCC)的方法, 考虑了电子与氢气之间的弹性碰撞、激发、电离以及氢原子、离子之间的弹性碰撞和电荷交换等过程, 对微型氢气潘宁离子源放电和引出过程进行了数值研究. 考察了磁场位形、壁面二次电子发射系数、引出电压和充气压力对放电过程的影响, 得到了实验中难以诊断得到的放电腔内电子与离子数密度分布, 阳极电流、引出极离子电流、单原子氢离子比例和双原子氢离子比例等宏观参数与实验结果相一致. 通过仿真使得对氢气潘宁放电机制的研究从定性过渡到定量, 这对于潘宁离子源的设计和改进具有重要意义. 关键词： 潘宁放电 氢气 粒子模拟 蒙特卡罗     

Indoor radon measurements in dwellings of four Saudi Arabian cities

An indoor radon survey of a total of 269 dwellings, with one dosimeter per house, distributed in four Saudi Arabian cities was carried out. The objective of this survey was to carry out indoor radon measurements of two cities in the Eastern Province, Khafji and Hafr Al-Batin and to compare this with two cities in the Western Province, Al-Madina and Taif. The survey provides additional information about indoor radon concentrations in Saudi Arabia. The results of the survey in these cities showed that the overall minimum, maximum and average radon concentration were 7,137 and 30 Bqm⁻³, respectively. The lowest average radon concentration (20 Bqm⁻³) was found in Hafr Al-Batin, while the highest average concentration was found in Khafji (40 Bqm⁻³).     

Monte Carlo simulation of electron swarms in nitrogen in uniformE×B fields

The motion of electrons in nitrogen in uniform E× B fields is simulated using the Monte Carlo technique for 240⩽E/N⩽600 Td (1 Td=1×10^-17 V cm²) and 0⩽B/N⩽0.45×10^-17 T cm³ . The electron-molecule collision cross sections adopted are the same cross sections as those used previously for the numerical solution of the Boltzmann equation. The swarm parameters obtained from the Monte Carlo simulation are compared with the Boltzmann solution and with the experimental data available in the literature. In relation to E×B fields, it is concluded that the Monte Carlo approach provides an independent method of substantiating the validity of the equivalent electric-field approach     

Radon decay products attached to clothes in a nuclear laboratory

A whole body counter determined the presence of radioactivities up to 21.8 kBq for ²¹⁴Bi and up to 18.7 kBq for ²¹⁴Pb attached to clothes of workers in a Nuclear Research Laboratory. A radon survey reveals that 80% of the monitoring areas have radon concentration values lower than 500 Bq m⁻³, while 10% of the sampling points with values bigger than 1 kBq m⁻³ correspond to the workers mentioned above. By exposing samples of 0.04 m² clothes in a radon chamber, it was observed that radon decay products ²¹⁴Bi and ²¹⁴Pb were attached to them with an activity of 315–618 Bq per each kBq m⁻³ of Rn concentration additionally, fibres characterised with a lower electrostatics build up showed the lower attachment.     

Operation of an unstable resonator TE CO2 laser with large electrode spacing using additives

A study of a pulsed transversely excited (TE) CO₂ laser using an unstable resonator configuration is reported. It is shown that a large aperture (4.75 cm) wire-triggered device can successfully operate at pressures of up to 650 torr with undoped gas mixtures whose molecular gas concentration exceeds 35%. These results are utilised for a comparative study of the influence of an organic additive on the performance of the system. It is observed that the addition of traces of tri-n-propylamine leads to significant improvements of the laser output characteristics even under conditions where a glow discharge could be obtained without the additive. With the doped TE CO₂ laser employed using a relatively low magnification unstable resonator (M = 1.45) near diffraction-limited performance has been achieved and a peak radiance of 4.5 × 10¹³ W cm⁻² sr⁻¹ has been obtained with a peak power of 65 MW.