A practical soil radon (²²²Rn) measurement method

A practical soil radon ( 222 Rn) measurement method 1 2 corresp first-author Corresponding author. E-mail address: sourcenet@sina.com Corresponding author. E-mail address: sourcenet@sina.com sourcenet@sina.com 1 1 2 2 Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China Chengdu University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Technology in Geosciences, Chengdu 610069, China Chengdu University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Technology in Geosciences, Chengdu 610069, China Soil radon measurement of high stability and sensitivity is widely applied, and in some applications, such as in uranium prospecting, 222 Rn should be distinguished from 220 Rn. To meet this requirement, a practical method based on soil radon diffusion and accumulation theory to measure soil radon by Alpha Particle Spectroscopy ( α -PS) is discussed in this paper. The α -PS measurement method can effectively overcome the effects of 220 Rn and its daughters ( 216 Po, 212 Bi, 212 Po). The system can eliminate the impact of soil radon field disturbance and non-uniformity through soil radon static diffusion. Radon daughters ( 218 Po, 214 Po) are accumulated under the action of an electrostatic force, which not only enhances the measurement sensitivity, but also increases robustness of the measurement. Simultaneous measurement of multiple points can increase the comparability of measurement data and the measurement efficiency. Experimental data shows that the soil radon measurement method was robust. So it has wide applications such as in geological prospecting, in fissure groundwater exploration and in ground subsidence inspection. Soil radon α-PS 222 Rn diffusion and accumulation theory Soil radon concentration measurement References Zhang Y , Hua R Z . Measurement of Radioactive Prospecting , Beijing : Atomic Energy Press , June, 1990 . (in Chinese) Measurement of Radioactive Prospecting Ershaidat N , Al-Bataina B , Al-Shereideh S . Environment Geolog , 2008 , 55 ( 1 ): 29 - 35 Environment Geolog Le R , Jia W . Radiat Protect , 2002 , 22 ( 3 ): 175 - 181 . (in Chinese) Radiat Protect JIANG M . Uranium Geolog , 2006 , 22 ( 1 ): 38 - 43 . (in Chinese) Uranium Geolog Fasasi, M K , Oyawale, A A , Mokobia, C E et al . Nucl Instr Meth , 2003 , A505 ( 1-2 ): 449 - 453 . Nucl Instr Meth Enu E I . Sedimentary Geol , 1985 , 44 : 65 - 81 . Sedimentary Geol Adegoke O S . Niger Min Geosci . 1980 , 2 : 27 - 37 Niger Min Geosci Crocket L O , Westcott B E . West Africa , 1954 , 17617 : 1 - 6 . West Africa Planinic J , Radolic V , Vukovic B . Nucl Instr Meth , 2004 , A530 ( 3 ), 568 - 574 Nucl Instr Meth DING W , The study of radon measurement system in α energy spectrum based on diffusion cumulative theory, Doctoral Dissertation , Chengdu University of Technology , April, 2009 . (in Chinese) The study of radon measurement system in α energy spectrum based on diffusion cumulative theory, Doctoral Dissertation Lu Z . Aerosol Science Introduction . Beijing : Atomic Energy Press , 2000 . (in Chinese) Aerosol Science Introduction 10.13538/j.1001-8042/nst.21.182-186 2010-03-01 2010-06-20 2021-01-19 2010 Nuclear Science and Techniques 03 21