Alpha self-absorption evaluation in radiometric filter material for the natural range of alpha energy (5-9 MeV)

Abstract

In this paper, SRIM (The Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter) software package is used to simulate the interaction of alpha particles into the material of radiometric analytical filters. The effect of alpha particle self-absorption in alpha radiometric filters measurements is estimated, especially in the range of natural alpha energy (5-9 MeV, Radon and Thoron alpha energy). Software package SRIM allows to calculate the parameters of the ions interaction with target material using a Monte Carlo simulation method based on a quantum mechanical treatment of ion-atom collisions. The effect of the radiometric analytical filter material on the transmitted efficiency of alpha energy is discussed. As the energy increases the self-absorption in analytical filter material is decreased but still has a clear effect. In this case, the filter material and the space distance between the filter and the detector window decrease the number of alpha particles which reach to the detector window.