Development of radon sources with a high stability and a wide range

摘要

A solid 222Rn (radon) source using a fibrous and porous SiC ceramic disk was developed. The emission rate of radon emanated from the disk depended on the content of 226Ra and the sintering temperature. A 226Ra sulfate (226RaSO4) solution was dropped on a fibrous SiC ceramic disk (33 mmϕ) of 1 mm in thickness, and sintered at 400 °C. The radon concentration from a disk containing 226Ra of 1.85 MBq was measured to be 38 kBq m-3 at a carrier airflow rate of 0.5 L min-1. By adjusting the 226Ra content or the sweep airflow rate, the radon concentrations were easily controlled over a wide range of over three orders of magnitude. The concentration was very stable for a long term. The compactness of the source disk made is easy for handling the source container and the shielding of gamma radiation from 226Ra and its decay products. Such advantages in a radon generation system are desirable for experiments of high-level, large-scale radon exposure.