Radon decay monitoring in air using characteristic emission of species in metal-assisted LIBS

Copper assisted optical emission spectroscopy is studied in the synthetic air and (Rn + air) environment. The copper plate acts as the metal target in the Q-SW Nd:YAG laser induced plasma. Several characteristic emissions are taken from oxygen, nitrogen and the copper species in (Rn + air) plasma within the control chamber. The emission lines due to the metal species and air components exhibit noticeably to be enhanced respect to those of the synthetic air. The corresponding amplitudes lucidly decrease during a ten day follow-up. The instantaneous reductions of the copper characteristic lines are in agreement with the radon decay. The plasma temperature is estimated based on the Boltzmann plot whereas the corresponding electron density is determined using the Stark broadening. It is shown that those plasma parameters gradually increase with time to reach the values of pure air after several radon half-lives.     

Environmental effects on nuclear decay rates

The possible change of nuclear decay rates in different environments has long been an interesting topic due to its importance not only in nuclear physics but also in astrophysics, geological dating, condensed matter physics, etc. The progress in the investigation of variations in nuclear decay rates are reviewed.     

Environmental effects on nuclear decay rates

The possible change of nuclear decay rates in different environments has long been an interesting topic due to its importance not only in nuclear physics but also in astrophysics, geological dating, condensed matter physics, etc. The progress in the investigation of variations in nuclear decay rates are reviewed.     

Radon emanation from soil samples

The soil or bedrock beneath a building is one of the sources of radon gas in the indoor air. The ²³⁸U content of samples of the soil or the bedrock can be measured by gamma ray spectrometry and is of interest because the uranium content in the soil is a precursor of the presence of the radon gas in the soil. The emanation of radon gas from different types of material can be estimated to some extent if the content of ²³⁸U of a sample is known and the ²²⁶Ra content is only minorly affected. The true emanation is, however, affected by various parameters. One of these parameters is the possibility or not for the gas to come out from the grains into the air in the space between the grains of the sample.

In this study we report the results from measurements of radon gas emanating from samples of soil frequent in the Lund region in Sweden and in the Barcelona region in Spain. As soils have different grain size it is important to know the type of soil. The ²³⁸U content of the soil is measured with gamma ray spectrometry. The radon measurements are made by Kodak plastic film in closed cans, filled with the soil according to a technique, developed for radon measurements in water samples.

The result shows, that the combination of grain size and uranium content is important for the emanation of the radon gas from the grains of the soil.     

Contribution of Radon Daughters Plated-Out in a Cylindrical Device by Track-Technique

CR-39 plastic nuclear track detector is used to measure the fraction of alpha-particle tracks due to radon daughters activities plated-out on the internal walls of a cylindrical-shaped plastic can. Radium chloride solution is used as a radon source, the exposure time is ranged from 4 hours to 3 days. To assess the percentage of plate-out effect on CR-39 nuclear track detector, two different methods were used. In one experiment, a few circular parallel pairs of CR-39 sheets were hanged in the can device. In the other experiment, the estimation of the plate-out effect has been performed, after exposure to the radon source, by detecting tracks with a second unexposed sheet placed in close contact to the exposed wall and detectors. In the two methods, it was found that the chemically etched tracks related to plated-out activities contribute about 50% of the measured alpha-particles tracks.

Der CR-39 Plast-Kernspurdetektor wurde zur Messung des Anteils an Spuren von Alphateilchen verwendet, die sich von den Radon-Tochterprodukten ergeben und auf den Innenwänden eines zylindrisch gestalteten Plastbehälters abgeschieden haben. Als Radonquelle wurde eine Radiumchlorid-Lösung verwendet und die Expositionszeiten lagen zwischen 4 Stunden und 3 Tagen. Um den Anteil des Abscheidungseffektes in einem CR-39 Spurdetektor zu bestimmen, wurden zwei unterschiedliche Methoden angewendet. In dent einen Versuch wurden einige zylindrische Parallelpaare von CR-39 Folien in den Behälter gehängt. In dent anderen Versuch wurde der Abscheidungseffekt in der Weise ermittelt, daβ nach der Exposition auf die Radonquelle mit einer zweiten nichtexponierten Folie die Spuren bestimmt wurden. Die nichtexponierte Folie war dabei in einem engen Kontakt zur exponierten Wand und den Detektoren. Durch beide Methoden wurde gefunden, daβ die chemiseh geätzten Spuren, die auf die Abscheidimgsaktivitäten züruckgeführt werden können, einen ungefahren Anteil von 50% an den gemessenen Alphateilchenspuren ausmachen.     

Radon levels in the volcanic region of La Garrotxa, Spain

A preliminary survey in the city of Olot, the main town of the volcanic region of La Garrotxa, showed that dwellings built on volcanic formations present higher indoor radon levels than dwellings on non-volcanic materials. The soil of the area is not especially rich in radium. However, some of the volcanic materials present very high permeability and therefore radon entering the houses might have travelled over long distances. In this paper we present indoor radon values measured in a larger survey carried out during April–July 2004. The influence of the volcanic materials found in the preliminary survey has been confirmed. The results obtained suggest the possibility that radon comes from the degassification of mantle through active faults. The values obtained in working places do not constitute a relevant radiological risk for workers.     

Radon measurements during the building of a low-level laboratory

Radon measurements were provided during the different stages of building of a low-level laboratory in Belgrade. The depth of the laboratory is 12 m, equivalent to 30 m of water with an area of 45 m². The whole of the laboratory is hermetically lined with 1 mm Al foil and is ventilated with filtered air. Radon concentrations were measured with the CR-39 detector as well as via the gamma-ray spectroscopic measurements. The radon concentrations in the air were achieved to 20 Bqm⁻³ and reduction of secondary and tertiary cosmic-ray fluxes is five times when ventilation, filtering and sealing was applied.     

Application of Origen2.1 in the decay photon spectrum calculation of spallation products

Origen2.1 is a widely used computer code for calculating the burnup, decay, and processing of radioactive materials. However, the nuclide library of Origen2.1 is used for existing reactors like pressurized water reactors. To calculate the photon spectrum released by the decay of spallation products, we have made specific libraries for the ADS tungsten spallation target, based on the results given by the FLUKA Monte Carlo code. All the data used to make the Origen2.1 libraries are obtained from Nuclear structure & decay Data (NuDat2.6). The accumulated activity of spallation products and the contribution of nuclides to photon emission are given in this paper.     

Baryon number violating nuclear decay

The expressions for baryon number violating nuclear partial decay widths are derived from the interactions as predicted by grand unified theories. Theory predicts that the baryon number violating proton decay inside the nucleus is hindered relative to the free proton decay rate. In the case of closed shell nuclei, the meson spin-isospin dependence of the partial width is the same as that for the nucleon decay. The branching ratios of decay amplitudes depend on the nuclear binding energies. Nuclear structure introduces lepton energy spread of ±49.5 MeV for light closed shell nuclei, while it does not affect the back to back emission of lepton-meson pair.     

Application of a radon model to explain indoor radon levels in a Swedish house

Radon entry from soil into indoor air and its accumulation indoors depends on several parameters, the values of which normally depend on the specific characteristics of the site. The effect of a specific parameter is often difficult to explain from the result of indoor radon measurements only. The adaptation of the RAGENA (RAdon Generation, ENtry and Accumulation indoors) model to a Swedish house to characterise indoor radon levels and the relative importance of the different radon sources and entry mechanisms is presented. The building is a single-zone house with a naturally-ventilated crawl space in one part and a concrete floor in another part, leading to different radon levels in the two parts of the building. The soil under the house is moraine, which is relatively permeable to radon gas. The house is naturally-ventilated. The mean indoor radon concentration values measured with nuclear track detectors in the crawl-space and concrete parts of the house are respectively 75±30 and 200±80 Bq m⁻³. Results of the model adaptation to the house indicate that soil constitutes the most relevant radon source in both parts of the house. The radon concentration values predicted by the model indoors fall into the same range as the experimental results.     

Radon exhalation studies in building materials using solid-state nuclear track detectors

Indoor radon has been recognized as one of the health hazards for mankind. Building materials constitute the second most important source of radon in dwellings. The common building materials used in the construction of dwellings are studied for radon exhalation rate. The ‘Can’ technique using LR-115 type-II solid-state nuclear track detector has been used for these measurements. The radon exhalation rate in these samples varies from 4.75 m Bq m⁻² h⁻¹ (0.14 m Bq kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) for limestone to 506.76 m Bq m⁻² h⁻¹ (15.24 m Bq kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) for soil.     

Experimental and theoretical study of radon levels and entry mechanisms in a mediterranean climate house

An experimental study has been carried out in an inhabited single-family house. Radon concentration in the different rooms of the house and in its garden soil has been measured with Nuclear Track Detectors. No high differences of radon concentration have been observed between the different rooms of the house, so that the proximity of the room level to the soil seems not to affect the radon concentration. The annual radon concentration obtained indoors and in the soil has been respectively 35 Bq m⁻³ and 24 kBq m⁻³. Since radon generation in the source, entry into indoor air and accumulation indoors depend on several parameters, the effect of a specific parameter on indoor radon concentration is difficult to explain from the radon measurements only. The RAGENA (RAdon Generation, ENtry and Accumulation indoors) model has been adapted to the room in the basement of the house. The mean radon concentration values obtained with the model are compared to experimental results derived from measurements using Nuclear Track Detectors. The use of the model, together with the experimental study, has allowed characterising radon sources, levels and entry mechanisms in the house. The concrete walls have been found to be the most relevant radon source, while the contribution of the soil is negligible in this case. The indoor radon level is given by the balance of the permanent exhalation from concrete and the removal due to ventilation. The indoor radon levels are close to the average value for the Barcelona area which, in turn, is close to the world averaged value.     

Radon epidemiology and nuclear track detectors: Methods, results and perspectives

An important achievement of nuclear track detectors is that they render it possible to measure a large number of radon concentrations. These are necessary for epidemiological studies aimed to estimate the lung cancer risk due to exposure to radon and its decay products in dwellings. Many case–control studies were conducted in the last 15 years in Europe, North America and China, in order to avoid the uncertainties associated with the risk extrapolation from epidemiological studies on miners exposed in underground mines. In this review paper, the main methodological issues of these studies are introduced: confounding factors, the impact of radon exposure uncertainties on the estimated risk, the retrospective assessment of radon exposure through the measurement of surface concentration on glass objects, the interaction between radon and smoking, statistical methods to analyze data and combine studies, etc. As regards the estimated risk of lung cancer, the main characteristics and results of each study are reported and discussed, together with the results of meta-analyses and, most importantly, of the three recently published analyses that pool 2 Chinese, 7 North American, and 13 European studies. Finally, some conclusions are given and a brief reference is made to ongoing studies.     

A rare nuclear decay process: The internal conversion between bound atomic states

We shall report on the recently observed dependence of the lifetime of the first excited state in ¹²⁵Te on the ionic charge state. Then we shall give an interpretation of the dependence of the half-life in terms of a new type of nuclear internal conversion without emission of the electron into the continuum of electron energies. We have named this process internal conversion between bound atomic states or BIC. The resonant character of the BIC will be established and the main parameters governing the decay process will be discussed [1–3]. Finally the results of a recent experiment performed at the GANIL accelerator attempting to measure directly the value of the internal conversion coefficient associated with BIC in ¹²⁵Te ions with charge states ranging between 44+ and 48+ will be given. In conclusion we shall discuss the relation between the BIC and nuclear excitation by electron transition, NEET, in the excitation of some nuclear isomeric states.     

Radon as a tracer for helium exploration in geothermal areas

High heat flow and weak structural features in geothermal areas allow easy passage for release of subsurface gases to the atmosphere. In particular, radon and helium are constantly transported from the earth's interior and vented out through exhalation points in permeable fault zones. At some places unusually large concentrations of helium may be encountered in soil airs. The possibility of trapping the released helium for bulk use has recently emerged. Because of its highly dispersive nature, helium is a difficult gas to detect during field explorations. Radon monitoring is thus taken up to locate structurally weak zones that allow helium permeation. The technique was recently adopted to determine high helium exhalation points in the Birbhum–Santhal Paragana geothermal area.     

大气降雨俘获空气中短寿命氡子体实验研究

为了研究降雨对空气中短寿命氡子体的清洗机制,设计了分别模拟大气降雨的水汽凝结过程和雨粒下降过程的两个实验装置,并进行了多次实验,实验水样采用低本底 能谱仪进行测量。实验结果表明:凝结水的短寿命放射性计数与本底相近,说明水汽凝结不能俘获短寿命氡子体。某一次自来水冲刷空气后获得了高出本底30.9% 的初始 计数,其半衰期为35.7 min,纯净水冲刷空气后获得了高出本底19.6%的初始计数,这些计数主要是由氡子体214Pb 和214Bi 引起的。可见,无论是自来水还是纯净水,它们冲刷空气后都能俘获短寿命氡子体,且半衰期和放射性核素种类均与雨水相似。这一实验结果充分说明:大气降雨的短寿命放射性不是在水汽凝结阶段而是在降落阶段对空气的冲刷获得的,是在降落过程中俘获了空气中的短寿命氡子体214Pb 和214Bi 而引起的。本次实验结果为降雨对空气中短寿命氡子体的冲刷清洗机制提供了最有力的证据。To investigate the underpinning mechanism of rainfall-scavenging of the atmospheric short-lived radon daughters, two experiments simulating water vapor condensing procedure and raindrop falling procedure were conducted. The radioactivity of the tested water was measured by low-background   γ spectrometry. The obtained results showed that the γ-ray counts of condensed water was on the same level as the background,which proved that water vapor condensation cannot trap short-lived radon daughters. In contrast, the initial γ-ray count of washout water (35.7 min half-life) was increased by 30.9% after washing the atmosphere with tap water. Similarly, the initial  -ray count of washout water was increased by 19.6% after washing the atmosphere with puri ed water. These counts originated mainly from radon daughters 214Pb and 214Bi. Obviously, both tap water and puri ed water can trap short-lived radon daughters when washing the atmosphere. Furthermore, the half-life and the kinds of radioactive nuclides in the washout water are similar to that in the rainfall water.These experimental results are able to ascertain that short-lived radon daughters in precipitation come mainly from scavenging (washout) and not from water vapor condensation within the cloud. It is in the process of falling that raindrops trapped short-lived radon daughters 214Pb and 214Bi. The obtained results as demonstrated here provide a powerful evidence for understanding the washout mechanism of short-lived radon daughters from theatmosphere by rainfall.     

From Complex Fractional Fourier Transform to Complex Fractional Radon Transform

We show that for n-dimensional complex fractional Fourier transform the corresponding complex fractional Radon transform can also be derived, however, it is different from the direct product of two n-dimensional real fractional Radon transforms. The complex fractional Radon transform of two-mode Wigner operator is calculated.     

Experience from using plastic film in radon measurement

Plastic film is a useful detector of radon gas. The method of detection of the gas is used for several decades to measure radon concentrations both indoors and in soil. Experiences from radon measurements in Sweden indoors, in soil and in water using the plastic film Kodak LR 115-II are discussed in this report. Some examples are given from various projects. One example is taken from a large scale mapping of indoor radon levels in houses, where the building material is the main source of radon. In anotther example the measurements from a large scale soil radon mapping are discussed. The use of the plastic film for measurements of radon levels in water is also discussed. All the investigations are made in order to give the authorities concerned information of the radon situation and to study the connection between high indoor radon levels and various types of cancers.