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Portable alpha spectroscopy

 We periodically need to identify unknown alpha emitters which are not readily
 removeable from surfaces. Typically, this occurs when trying to identify the
 isotope found on a circuit board which may have been subjected to a number of
 processes involving different alpha emitting isotopes (i.e., neutron or
 fission product irradiation from Cf-252 sources, dusting with air from
 anti-static air nozzles containing Po-210, etc.). Alpha emission levels from
 the surface of these components range between 0.3 and 35 per cm2 per minute.

 The only portable instrument we have seen that would give us this capability
 is the new SAIC AP-2 alpha analyzer. Does anyone have any experience with this
 or any other device that would permit alpha spectroscopy on fairly large
 objects? (Disassembly of other people's hardware isn't always an option.) Or
 can anyone suggest an alternate means for accomplishing this?We are concern ed
 about reliability, ease of use, ability to calibrate, and general usefulness
 of whatever instrument we get.

 Thanks,
 Richard W. Edwards, Analyst          The Boeing Company
 Phone: (206) 393-1999                P.O. Box 3707, M/S 6Y-38
 Fax:   (206) 393-3060                Seattle, WA  98124-2207