[ RadSafe ] outdoor low dose rate measurements

[Helmut Wabnig]

On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 14:39:15 -0500, you wrote:

>Radsafers
>
>I just finished a calculation that's going to require a minimally trained 
>individual (not a radworker)  to notice the difference between 0.03 
>mrad/hr and 0.13 mrad/hr on a handheld meter while walking around an 
>outdoor storage area. I'm stressing that this is a calculated result 
>because it's the maximum calculated difference. The minimum calculated 
>difference is between 0.02 mrad/hr to 0.04 mrad/hr. Actual dose rates 
>should fall somewhere in between.
>
>Is this a reasonable expectation, or is it asking too much of an outdoor 
>walk-around with a hand held meter?  BTW, I have no idea what the radon 
>conditions are.

Depends on your "hand-held" instrument sensitivity.
Archeologists do similar measurement in unknown terrain to identify
very tiny changes in surface radioactivity for identifying buried
structures. They use large 100x100 mm NatriumJodide crystals
and scintillators. With such an instrument you will easily detect
what you are asking for. Newer developments use micro-magnetometers
because they are even more sensitive than scintillators.

w.