Radiobiology of α Particles: I. Exposure System and Dosimetry

• Published in: Radiation research 1990-09, Vol.123 (3), p.304-310
• Main Authors: Inkret, W. C., Eisen, Y., Harvey, W. F., Koehler, A. M., Raju, M. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 440101 - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments; 560120 - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals, Cells, & Tissue Culture; ACTINIDE ISOTOPES; ACTINIDE NUCLEI; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; ALPHA PARTICLES; Aluminum; Applied radiobiology (equipment, dosimetry...); Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; BIOLOGY; CELL CULTURES; CHARGED PARTICLES; DESIGN; DOSES; Dosimetry; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; Fluence; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HEAVY ION DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; HEAVY NUCLEI; INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; IONIZATION CHAMBERS; ISOTOPES; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; NUCLEI; Particle energy; Particle mass; Plutonium; PLUTONIUM 238; PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES; RADIATION DETECTORS; Radiation Dosage; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; RADIOBIOLOGY; RADIOISOTOPES; Radiometry - instrumentation; Shutters; Silicon; SILICON 32 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; Stopping power; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Uniformity; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
• ISSN: 0033-7587; 1938-5404
• DOI: 10.2307/3577737

A ^{238}{\rm Pu}$ α-particle exposure apparatus was designed and constructed for use in radiobiological studies with cultured cell systems. The system provides a wide dynamic range of absorbed doses and a uniform radiation field. Average dose rate in air was measured with a small-volume ionization chamber. Estimates of dose rate at the cell surface were obtained from measurements taken with a silicon surface barrier detector. Particle fluence uniformity and fluence rate were measured using track etch procedures. The design and dosimetric characterization of the apparatus are discussed.