Detector of alpha particles and x-rays operating in ambient air in pulse counting mode or/and with gas amplification

TL;DR

This paper explores the development of gaseous detectors operating in ambient air for alpha particles and X-rays, demonstrating their feasibility in pulse counting and gas amplification modes with potential applications in environmental monitoring.

Contribution

It introduces two novel open-end gaseous detectors, including a GEM-like design, capable of operating in ambient air with high gas gains and compares their performance to existing commercial detectors.

Findings

Successful construction and testing of two gaseous detectors in ambient air.

Demonstrated high gas gain operation up to 10^4 in air.

Potential for low-cost, high-sensitivity alpha particle detection in public spaces.

Abstract

Ionization chambers working in ambient air in current detection mode are widely used in several applications such as smoke detection, dosimetry, therapeutic beam monitoring and cetera. The aim of this work was to investigate if gaseous detectors can operate in ambient air in pulse counting mode as well as with gas amplification. . To investigate the feasibility of this method two types of open- end gaseous detectors were build and successfully tested. The first one was a single wire or multiwire cylindrical geometry detector operating in pulse mode at a gas gain of 1. The second type alpha detector was an innovative GEM-like detector with resistive electrodes operating in air in avalanche mode at high gas gains (up to 10E4). A detailed comparison between these two detectors is given as well as comparison with the commercially available alpha detectors. The main advantages of gaseous detectors operating in air in a pulse detection mode are their simplicity, low cost and high sensitivity. One of the possible applications of these new detectors is alpha particle background monitors which, due to their low cost can find wide application not only in houses, but in public areas: airports, railway station and so on.