Abstract
When exposed to air, alpha particles cause the production of light by exciting the molecules surrounding them. This light, the radioluminescence, is indicative of the presence of alpha radiation, thus allowing for the optical sensing of alpha radiation from distances larger than the few centimeters an alpha particle can travel in air. While the mechanics of radioluminescence in air and other gas compositions is relatively well understood, the same cannot be said about the radioluminescence properties of liquids. Better understanding of the radioluminescence properties of liquids is essential to design methods for the detection of radioactively contaminated liquids by optical means. In this article, we provide radioluminescence images of Am-241 dissolved in aqueous nitric acid () solution and present the recorded radioluminescence spectrum with a maximum between and , and a steep decrease at the short wavelength side of the maximum. The shape of the spectrum resembles a luminescence process rather than Cerenkov light, bremsstrahlung, or other mechanisms with broadband emission. We show that the amount of light produced is about 150 times smaller compared to that of the same amount of Am-241 in air. The light production in the liquid is evenly distributed throughout the sample volume with a slight increase on the surface of the liquid. The radioluminescence intensity is shown to scale linearly with the Am-241 concentration and not be affected by the concentration.
Highlights
Radioluminescence describes the spontaneous emission of light as a consequence of interaction of luminescent material with ionizing radiation
We present radioluminescence images originating from a liquid with Am-241 dissolved in an aqueous solution of nitric acid (HNO3 )
We studied the radioluminescence produced by alpha active Am-241 dissolved into an aqueous solution of nitric acid
Summary
Radioluminescence describes the spontaneous emission of light as a consequence of interaction of luminescent material with ionizing radiation. The ionizing particle typically originates from, but is not limited to, a form of radioactive decay. In the process of creating radioluminescence, the ionizing particle or an induced secondary electron collides with a luminescent material, resulting in the elevation of an orbital electron [1]. The excited electron has a chance to radiatively decay, thereby emitting a photon of light. Photons created this way are said to be radioluminescence, since the presence of ionizing radiation lead to its production. The presence of radioluminescence is to be taken as an indicator for the presence of ionizing radiation itself
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