Miniaturized atmospheric ionization detector

TL;DR

This paper introduces a compact scintillator-based atmospheric ionization detector capable of measuring count rates and energy levels, validated through a test flight that showed consistent results with existing data and increased radiation energy at higher altitudes.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel miniaturized detector for atmospheric ionization, combining count and energy measurements, suitable for commercial use and validated through flight testing.

Findings

Count rate profile matches previous data

Energy of radiation increases with altitude

Device performs reliably in real flight conditions

Abstract

A small scintillator-based detector for atmospheric ionization measurements has been developed, partly in response to a need for better ionization data in the weather-forming regions of the atmosphere and partly with the intention of producing a commercially available device. The device can measure both the count rate and energy of atmospheric ionizing radiation. Here we report results of a test flight over the UK in December 2017 where the detector was flown with two Geiger counters on a meteorological radiosonde. The count rate profile with height was consistent both with the Geigers and with previous work. The energy of incoming ionizing radiation increased substantially with altitude.