Assembly and Assessment of an Alpha Spectrometer
Document Type
Poster
Campus where you would like to present
Ellensburg
Event Website
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source
Start Date
18-5-2020
Abstract
Alpha spectroscopy is used to characterize and measure alpha particles emitted in the decay of certain radioactive isotopes. The purpose of this project was to assemble and assess the performance of an alpha spectrometer apparatus for the CWU Physics Department. This apparatus consisted of a vacuum pump system connected to an ORTEC Alpha Aria detector chamber containing a silicon surface barrier detector. The Alpha Aria chamber and detector connect to a computer using ORTEC MAESTRO software that operates the system and presents spectra of radioactive isotopes. For this project, we obtained two alpha particle sources, Americium-241 and Radium-226. The spectra observed for the Radium-226 source were consistent with its characteristic decay scheme; however, the spectra observed for the Americium-241 source were not. Further investigation suggested that the observed inconsistencies could be explained by the straggling effect due to the casing of the Americium-241 source.
Recommended Citation
Wheeler, Brooklyn, "Assembly and Assessment of an Alpha Spectrometer" (2020). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 97.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/COTS/97
Department/Program
Physics
Additional Mentoring Department
https://cwu.studentopportunitycenter.com/2020/04/assembly-and-assessment-of-an-alpha-spectrometer/
Assembly and Assessment of an Alpha Spectrometer
Ellensburg
Alpha spectroscopy is used to characterize and measure alpha particles emitted in the decay of certain radioactive isotopes. The purpose of this project was to assemble and assess the performance of an alpha spectrometer apparatus for the CWU Physics Department. This apparatus consisted of a vacuum pump system connected to an ORTEC Alpha Aria detector chamber containing a silicon surface barrier detector. The Alpha Aria chamber and detector connect to a computer using ORTEC MAESTRO software that operates the system and presents spectra of radioactive isotopes. For this project, we obtained two alpha particle sources, Americium-241 and Radium-226. The spectra observed for the Radium-226 source were consistent with its characteristic decay scheme; however, the spectra observed for the Americium-241 source were not. Further investigation suggested that the observed inconsistencies could be explained by the straggling effect due to the casing of the Americium-241 source.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/COTS/97
Faculty Mentor(s)
Michael Braunstein