Optical image sensors and their application in radon detection

Ryan H. Griffin; N. Garry Tarr

doi:10.1117/12.2033635

11 October 2013 Optical image sensors and their application in radon detection

Ryan H. Griffin, N. Garry Tarr

Proceedings Volume 8915, Photonics North 2013; 89151C (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2033635
Event: Photonics North 2013, 2013, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

This paper reports on the development and testing of a direct reading radon detector assembled from consumer electronics at very low cost. An electrostatic concentrator constructed by metalizing a plastic funnel is used to focus charged radon progeny onto the exposed surface of an optical image sensor from a webcam. Alpha particles emitted by the collected progeny strike the image sensor, generating sufficient charge to completely saturate one or more pixels The high voltage required by the concentrator is generated using a simple Cockcroft-Walton charge pump. A personal computer is used to analyze the webcam data. Alpha particles were counted at a rate of 5.2 counts/ hour at a radon concentration of 159 Bq/ m³.

Citation Download Citation

Ryan H. Griffin and N. Garry Tarr "Optical image sensors and their application in radon detection", Proc. SPIE 8915, Photonics North 2013, 89151C (11 October 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2033635

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