King’s MSc in Med Engineering & Physics

Radiation Physics Lab: Contamination Monitors

1. Briefly describe the design features of each monitor, how they work and ways by which you can
quickly tell them apart.

Check each of the monitors is ready for use. You are provided with five sources; 3H, 14C, 90Sr, 129I
and 137Cs. Use each of the monitors with these sources. [3 marks]

The Geiger-Muller tube contains a gas which is ionized when gamma photons or high-energy
particles travel through. An ionization event is measured with the help of a voltage applied to the
tube. The ouput reads the number of ionizations corresponding to counts per time. Higher readings
can be less accurate due to the finite dead time of the monitor. The probe is usually short and light.

A proportional probe similarly uses a gas which ionizes when radiated and converts this into
an electrical pulse. The monitor operates in the proportional region of the rate of charge collected vs
voltage applied graph characterising the repose of a gaseous detector. It covers a larger area and gives
a time-averaged reading, therefore it takes a while for the value on the screen to stabilise. It is distinct
looking, as it has a large detection area attached to block with a handle, rather than having a detached
probe.

A scintillation probe has a crystal which produces light when radiated. Its thickness will
determine the types of particles it can detect ie. A thick crystal will monitor high-energy gamma rays
or particles, while thinner crystals will react to lower energy particles as well. The probe is typically
long and heavier.

2. Devise an apparatus for checking the calibration of the contamination monitors. Describe this
method. Produce a table showing qualitatively and quantitatively the response of each monitor on
each source. [4 marks]

To check the calibration of the monitors, several sources have been used. The probe sits 1cm
away from the sources and to be consistent with this distance a 1cm perpex plate was prompted
between the probe and source and then removed. The scintillation and GM probes were fixed using
clamps fitted to a stand. Measurements were recorded and can be found in Table 1. Qualitative
responses of the monitors were noted as well. A background measurement was carried out as well,
so it can be subsequently subtracted from the readings. The background corrected counts can be
found in Table 2.

Probe Scintillator GM Large Area

Counts
Qualitative Counts per Qualitative Counts per Qualitative
Source per
counts second counts second counts
second
I-129 500 High 5 Low 300 High
Cs-137 35 High 3 Low 30 High
C-14 6 Low 25 High 50 High
Sr-90 70 Low 150 High 630 High
H-3 5-6 Very Low 1 Very Low 13 Very Low

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 background 5 0.5 13
Table 1: Readings of different sources using three different monitors

Probe Scintillator GM Large Area

Counts per Counts per Counts per
Source
second second second
I-129 495 4.5 287
Cs-137 30 2.5 17
C-14 1 24.5 37
Sr-90 65 149.5 617
H-3 1 0.5 0
background 0 0 0
Table 2: Readings of different sources using three different monitors background corrected

The recorded values can then be compared to the expected ones to calculate the calibration
error:
𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 − 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑
𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100
𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
3. Explain briefly why the responses observed are logical considering the types of emissions and the
construction of the detectors. [4 marks]

The scintillator probe was good at detecting I-129, Sr-90 and Cs-137, as these are gamma
emitters which can be identified by scintillation. The Geiger Muller registered most counts for Sr-90
and C-14, as it detects beta particles which are part of these isotopes’ decay. The large area detector
can pick up both beta and gamma particles, therefore registered counts for all sources (apart from H-
3).

4. There is a source which cannot be detected by the monitors. Explain why, and briefly describe a
method by which it can be detected. [2 marks]

The H-3 source cannot be detected by any monitor. This is because it is a very low energy beta
emitter and the radiation gets absorbed before it can be detected. H-3 can be monitored employing
a wipe test which is immersed into an organic phosphor liquid which scintillates.

5. Using the information in appendix 1 and your results in question 2, devise a calculation to check
the calibration of the Geiger Muller tube with C-14. Then check the calibration with Sr-90. [7 marks]

To calculate the expected counts, the source activity and sensitivity factors for the detector
are taken from Table1 and Table 2. A factor of 10 needs to be considered due to the difference in the
reference areas for these two values.

C-14:

𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 1.3 × 10 × 2.58 = 33.54

𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 − 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 33.54 − 24.5
𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = = = −26.95%
𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 33.54

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 Sr-90:

𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 4 × 10 × 2.63 = 105.2

𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 − 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 105.2 − 149.5
𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = = = −42.11%
𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 105.2

6. How do your measured results compare to the calculated results? If there is a difference, explain
why this occurs and how in practice, you would alter the method. [3 marks]

The result for C-14 is lower than 30%, indicating that the monitor is within calibration. The
tolerance guidelines are by NPL. However, Sr-90 yields a calibration error of 42.11% which is greater
than 30%. This could be explained due to the daughter element of Sr-90, Y-90, which is radioactive in
itself and emits gamma rays which are detected by the monitor. This can impact the result.

7. What change and additional test would you introduce when checking the scintillation probe? [2
marks]

Firstly, a light-leakage test should be conducted on the scintillation probe, as it is light-

sensitive. This test involves exposing the detector to bright light and ensuring it does not yield a finite
measure, thus verifying the effectiveness of the box in blocking light. For optimal detection, a gamma
source should be employed, as scintillation probes are most sensitive to this type of radiation.

Appendix 1.

Taken from the Mini-Monitor Series 900 manual:

Table 1 shows the approximate counting rate in pulses per second from a calibrated large area
source for the different models. These measurements were carried out by NRPB using sources
having an active area of 100cm2

Table 1.

Counts above background for 1Bqcm-2 on 100cm2

Nuclide E max
Model S/SL 1cm Model E Model EP15 Model EL
90 Sr/ 0.55/2.3 1.1/2.2 1.8 4.0 3.7
90 Y
204 0.77 - 1.3 3.6 2.7
Tl
36 0.71 0.4/0.8 1.7 3.9 3.0
Cl

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 147 0.22 - 0.9 1.7 2.2
Pm
14 0.16 - 0.7 1.3 1.3
C

Table 2.

Taken from the source calibration certificates:

Dimensions of Surface
Source Activity
Nuclide Ref Date active surface Emission
Number (kBq) (mm) Rate (s-1)
14 22/3/2002
KM970 C 2.58 100 x 100 994
12:00 GMT
90 22/03/2002
KM971 Sr 2.63 100 x 100 3390
12:00 GMT
129 01/08/2001
HY794 I 30 100 x 100 8817
12:00 GMT
137 01/08/2001
HY795 Cs 10 100 x 100 4770
12:00GMT

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