[ RadSafe ] FW: Nanoparticles for nuclear tools (Gamma tools, etc)

[Doug Aitken]

Interesting!

Nanoparticles show promise as inexpensive, durable scintillators


Lanthanum Halide Nanoparticle Scintillators for Nuclear Radiation Detection<http://jap.aip.org/resource/1/japiau/v113/i6/p064303_s1>

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/aiop-nsp032513.php

A team of industrial and university researchers has shown that nanoparticles with sizes smaller than 10 nm-approximately the width of a cell membrane-can be successfully incorporated into scintillation devices capable of detecting and measuring a wide energy range of X-rays and gamma rays emitted by nuclear materials.

The proof-of-concept study, described in the Journal of Applied Physics, suggests that "nanocrystals"-nanoparticles clustered together to mimic the densely-packed crystals traditionally used in scintillation devices-may one day yield radiation detectors that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture, can be produced quickly in large quantities, are less fragile, and capture most of the X-ray and gamma ray energies needed to identify radioactive isotopes. Earlier studies have shown that when X-rays or gamma rays strike these miniature, non-crystalline scintillators, some atoms within them are raised to a higher energy level. These atoms de-excite and give off their energy as optical photons in the visible and near-visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The photons can be converted to electrical pulses, which, in turn, can be measured to quantify the X-ray and gamma radiation detected and help locate its source.
Regards
Doug
___________________________________________________________________________________
Doug Aitken
QHSE Advisor, Schlumberger D&M Operations Support
Cell Phone: 713-562-8585
(alternate e-mail: doug.aitken at slb.com<mailto:doug.aitken at slb.com> )
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