Density Analysis of Materials Using Gamma Backscattering Radiation and

Manufacturing of a Radiation Detector

Introduction to Experimental Research

Presented to: Fabio Enrique Fajardo Tolosa.

Presented by: Jeshua Eduardo Perez Cardenas.
Code: 01133969
Contents
1 Aims and Questions 4
1.1 Aims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2 Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Theoretical Foundations 4
2.1 Detectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2 Geiger-Muller counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2.1 Geiger Plateau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3 Experiment proposal 5
3.1 First Set up: Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.2 First Set up: Backsatering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 NOTE: Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.4 Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.5 Sample: Dissolution + Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.6 Making a Geiger-M uller counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2
 Density Analysis of Materials Using Gamma
Backscattering Radiation and Manufacturing of a
Radiation Detector
Jeshua Eduardo Perez Cardenas. Code: 01133969.
Departamento de Fsica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogot
a D.C., Colombia

February 18, 2017

Abstract
In this document there are the aims of the project to be done. Also there are simple
theoretical concepts and the first experiment proposal about how to get a relationship
between the density of a material and gamma radiation that interacts with the material.
To do this only it is needed a gamma source, a sample and a Geiger-Muller counter. On the
other hand it is proposed the manufacture of a Geiger-M
uller counter with simple materials.
Keywords: Density, gamma radiation.

1 Aims and Questions 2 Theoretical Foundations

1.1 Aims
1. Find a correlation between the density
of a material and resulting backskattered To detect radiation there are 3 main types of
gamma spectrum.
2. Manufacture an useful (Geiger) detector.
1.2 Questions
1. Is there a (mathematical) relationship
between the density of a material and
the the backscattered gamma spectrum?
2. Is it possible to make up an useful radi-
ation detector with simple materials ?
2.1 Interaction of Radiation with
Matter
2.2 Detectors
detectors:
1. The scintillation counter, that turns ra-
dioactive particles (, or ) in visible
light. With this light and after an elec-
tronic procedure a spectrum of energy
can be obtained.
2. The semiconductor detector, that uses
the gap energy between valance band
and conduction band to detect the in-
cident radiation and as the scintillation
counter, after electronics a spectrum can
be obtained.
3. The gaseous ionization detector uses a
gas between two electrodes. When ion-
izing radiation impinges in the gas, elec-
trons are separated from atoms, which

4
 result in separated ions and electrons. plied to the electrodes of the counter. A typ-
The electrons go to the anode and ions ical scheme of this behaviour is in the figure
to the cathode and a current is created. (2).
The more radiation impinges the gas, the
more current is generated. This current
can be measured and it is an observa-
tion of the quantity of incident radiation
to the detector.

One of the proposals of this project is to

develop a Geiger-M
uller counter, for that rea-
son how it works will be explained briefly.

2.3 Geiger-M
uller counter
A Geiger-M uller counter is a gaseous ioniza-
tion detector. The anode corresponds to one
wire and the cathode is a cylinder around the
anode. A scheme of a Geiger-M uller counter
Figure 2: Counts in function of voltage.
can be seen in figure. (1)
To prevent the chemical interaction of the
The Geiger Plateau is the region where
gas inside de Geiger-M uller with the anode
the Geiger-M uller tube operates in a correct
and cathode, this must be a noble gas but,
mode. In this region the slope is the minimum.
in spite of this a Geiger-M uller counter can
The curve for the Geiger-M uller counter that
be done with a no noble gas. As the Geiger-
is used in the laboratory of the Physics De-
M uller counter detects any ionizing radiation
partment is in the figure (3).
it does not distinguish nor any kind of incident
particles (, and ) neither their energies.
In other words, a Geiger-M uller counter only
counts the total incident radiation. For that
reason this project has to be developed with
an almost monochromatic gamma source.

Figure 3: Counts in function of voltage.

3 Experiment proposal
Figure 1: Geiger-M
uller counter scheme.
The main goal of the project is the analysis
of the spectrum of backscattered gamma rays
2.3.1 Geiger Plateau
and link this resulting spectrum with the den-
The number of counts registered by a Geiger- sity of the material that scattered the incident
Muller counter is function of the voltage ap- radiation. For that reason I propose, firstly

5
the analysis of counts obtained by a Geiger-
Muller counter when an almost monochro-
matic gamma source interacts with a sample
by transmission of gamma radiation through
the sample and then by backscattered gamma
radiation.
3.1 First Set up: Transmission
In this experiment the aim is find a relation
between the counts obtained in the Geiger-
M uller counter and the density of a sample
when the gamma radiation passes through the
sample. To get this the set up of the ex-
periment must be thereby: the Geiger-M uller
counter, in front of this the sample and in front
of the sample the gamma source. This situa-
tion is represented in the table (3.1)
Geiger-M
uller counter
Sample (Dissolution)
Source
Table 1: Set up of the transmission rays ex- counter we do not know how is each of these
periment.
3.2 First Set up: Backsatering
As well as the set up transmission experiment,
the aim is find a relation between the counts
obtained in the Geiger-M uller counter and the
density of a sample but the difference is that
in this cases the radiation registered in the
Geiger-M uller counter is due to backscatter-
ing. To get this the set up of the experiment
must be thereby: the Geiger-M uller counter,
in front of this the the gamma source and in
front of the source must be the sample. This
situation is represented in the table (3.2)
Geiger-M
uller counter
Source
Sample (Dissolution)
Table 2: Set up of the backscattering rays
experiment.
3.3 NOTE: Background
To carry the experiment out in both arrange-
ments its necessary first to take measures
(counts) with no sample and the with the sam-
ple. The measures without the sample corre-
spond to the background, and it must be cor-
rected from the total measurement.
3.4 Sources
As the aim is analyse backscattering of gamma
radiation, definitely the source must be a
gamma source. Also the source must be quite
monochromatic. This because if we have a
source that emits radiation with many fre-
quencies its probable that each photon of
different energy interacts with the sample in
a different way and with the Geiger-M uller
interactions. With the Geiger-M uller counter
we know the total counts. A good almost
monochromatic source available in the labo-
ratory is the Cesium-130.
3.5 Sample: Dissolution + Con-
tainer
To have control of the density of a material it
is suitable that this is a dissolution. We can
change the density of one dissolution by chang-
ing the solute concentration in it. Furthermore
the dissolution must be in a container. This
can be a bottle cap. But the sample per se
is only the dissolution. So the cap must be
taken into account when the background mea-
surement be done. I propose 3 sorts of disso-
lutions:
6
 1. Water with sugar. Trabajo de grado. Universidad Nacional de
Colombia, 2007.
2. Water with salt.
3. Water with sand. [2] Martha Liliana Cortes. Energy and Time
Characterization of the response of the soil
to gamma-rays. Trabajo de grado. Univer-
3.6 Making a Geiger-M uller counter
sidad Nacional de Colombia, 2010.
The simplest way to make a Geiger-M uller
counter is assemble the next materials: [3] Andrea Abril Fajardo. Exploraci on de
la capacidad de metodos nucleares para
1. A can. Of soda it could be. This la caracterizaci
on de la homogeneidad en
would be the cathode of the Geiger- densidad y humedad de suelos. Tesis de
Muller counter. maestra. Universidad Nacional de Colom-
2. An aluminium foil. This is put in the bia, 2012.
can and it is kind of filter for and low
[4] Claudia Marcela Garzon Florez. Caracter-
energy particles.
izaci
on de Dispersiones Compton Simples
3. A wire. It can be a copper wire. This y Mu ltiples en Suelo mediante Simulaci
on
would be the anode of the Geiger-M uller Numerica. Trabajo de grado. Universidad
counter. Industrial de Santander, 2012.

4. A source of voltage. It can be a simple [5] Stephen Rituper Grafton D. Chase. Exper-
battery or can be the output voltage of iments in Nuclear Science, Second Edition.
Arduino board. This would supply the Alpha Editions, 1964.
potential difference between anode and
cathode. [6] Juansebastian Gomez Mu noz. Study of
gammabackscattering in soil layers with
5. An output. It can be a speaker or it can different thicknesses and water content.
be a ADC connected with the Arduino Trabajo de grado. Universidad Nacional de
board to get a digital signal. Colombia, 2012.
Aside from these materials, it is also
[7] Fernanda Nader Nieto. Simulaci on en
needed resistors and transistors to make the
Geant4 de la interaccion gamma-suelo.
Geiger-Muller counter, and wires to collect the
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 2010.
information of the electrodes.
[8] J.W. Simpson. A non-destructive method
References of measuring concrete density using
backscattered gamma radiation. University
[1] Martha Liliana Cortes. Study of gamma of Manchester Institute of Science and
backscattering in a multielemental medium. Technology, UK, 1968.