Sensitive detection of low doses beta particles using quartz crystal oscillators

Abstract

The demand for developing a cheap and novel ionizing radiation detection technique has recently increased. This work aims to establish a new detection method for beta particles based on a quartz tuning fork (QTF). QTF coated and uncoated with 40 nm of aluminum (Al) were used to evaluate the system under different conditions. All samples were exposed to different doses of beta using a 90Sr beta source. The results confirmed that a clear frequency shift was observed during beta irradiation. Once the radiation source was removed, the frequency returned to normal behavior. This effect is more pronounced with the Al-coated sample due to more tensile stress caused by thermal heating induced by beta radiation. Before and after beta irradiation, the optical properties of SiO2 wafers (quartz) were also studied using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements. The SE results were largely consistent with the QTF resonance frequency shift results. In conclusion, experiment results proved the probability of using QTF as sensitive, accurate, and easy-to-use sensing for low-dose beta radiation.