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Interaction of Radiation With Matter - 2: Day 2 - Lecture 2

This document discusses beta particle interactions and the resulting radiation effects. It describes how beta particles ionize atoms and produce fast moving electrons. These electrons can then produce bremsstrahlung radiation when deflected by atomic nuclei. Higher energy beta emitters are more likely to produce these braking radiation photons. Cerenkov radiation is also discussed, where beta particles moving through water faster than light in that medium produce visible blue light. Shielding is needed to protect against beta particles and their secondary radiation effects.

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32 views22 pages

Interaction of Radiation With Matter - 2: Day 2 - Lecture 2

This document discusses beta particle interactions and the resulting radiation effects. It describes how beta particles ionize atoms and produce fast moving electrons. These electrons can then produce bremsstrahlung radiation when deflected by atomic nuclei. Higher energy beta emitters are more likely to produce these braking radiation photons. Cerenkov radiation is also discussed, where beta particles moving through water faster than light in that medium produce visible blue light. Shielding is needed to protect against beta particles and their secondary radiation effects.

Uploaded by

jody9090
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Interaction of radiation with matter - 2

Charged Particle Radiation


(Beta Particles)

IAEA Day 2 – Lecture 2 1


Objective

• To discuss the following as they relate to


beta particle interactions

 Mechanisms of Energy Transfer


 Bremsstrahlung
 Cerenkov Radiation
 Shielding

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Ionization

Ionizing radiation
removes orbital
electrons from atoms

This creates an ion


pair – an electron and
the atom that has lost
an electron

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Ionization

Ionizing radiation
includes photons,
but the result is the
same – an ion pair is
produced

This section focuses


on the electron
interactions

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Electrons

Recall that unlike


photons, electrons
have a charge (-)
and mass

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Electrons

Electrons are much lighter than the nucleons


– the neutron and proton in the nucleus

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Electrons

All of the photon interactions

 photoelectric effect
 Compton scattering
 pair production

result in the production


of electrons. These are ionizing radiation just
like beta particle sources
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Electrons

• Electron interactions are comparable to those of


other charged particles

• More energetic electrons travel faster and so create


a lower ionization density

• Energetic electrons deposit less energy so the dose


is lower until they slow down

• Dose is the amount of energy deposited per mass of


material (joules/kg)

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Electrons

• In addition to the energy of the


electron, the stopping power depends
on the material in which the electron is
interacting

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Bremsstrahlung

• When an electron interacts close


to a nucleus, it accelerates and
changes direction

• The result is that a photon is


produced. This process is called
“Bremsstrahlung” which means
‘braking radiation’

• Bremsstrahlung photons have a


continuous energy distribution

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Bremsstrahlung

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Empirical Relationship

The fraction of electrons producing Bremsstrahlung


follows the relationship:

F = 3.5 x 10-4 (Z)(E)

Note that the value of “E” is the


maximum energy for beta particles

Beta particles that have higher


energy will have a greater fraction
of Bremsstrahlung photons created
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Bremsstrahlung

F = 3.5 x 10-4 (Z)(E)

Carbon-14, phosphorous- 32
are tritium (hydrogen-3) are
all beta emitters but only one
of these presents a radiation
hazard due to bremsstrahlung
radiation. Which radionuclide
and Why do you think this is
the case?

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Bremsstrahlung
Carbon-14 and tritium
(hydrogen-3), are not likely to
produce bremsstrahlung due
to their low energy beta
particles of 0.156 MeV and
0.018 MeV, respectively.

Conversely, a higher energy


beta emitting nuclide, like
phosphorous-32, is very likely
to create bremsstrahlung
photons due to it’s 1.7 MeV
beta particle.
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Shielding for Beta Sources

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Cerenkov Radiation

• Cerenkov radiation is the visible light that is


created when charged particles pass
through a material at a velocity greater than
the velocity of light for that material

• Cerenkov radiation is observable in spent


fuel pools of reactors and in irradiator
source storage pools

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Cerenkov Radiation
Reactor Spent Fuel Pool

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Cerenkov Radiation
Irradiator Source Rack

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Cerenkov Radiation

• While no particle can exceed the speed of light in a


vacuum (3.0x108 m/s), it is possible for a particle to travel
faster than the speed of light in certain mediums such as
water

• When the charged beta particle moves through the water it


tends to "polarize" (or orient) the water molecules

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Cerenkov Radiation
• After the beta particle has passed, the
molecules realign themselves in their
original, random charge distribution

• A pulse of electromagnetic radiation in the


form of blue light is emitted as a result of
this reorientation

• The intensity of the blue glow is directly


proportional to the number of fissions
occurring and the reactor power level
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Cerenkov Radiation

• Although most of the Cerenkov radiation is in the


ultraviolet region, it is visible to us with a distinctive
soft blue glow

• The blue glow persists for a short time after the


reactor has been shut down

• This property may be used to inspect spent fuel to


see if it is actually spent fuel or dummies used to
mask a diversion of material

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Where to Get More Information

 Cember, H., Johnson, T. E, Introduction to Health


Physics, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York
(2009)

 International Atomic Energy Agency, Postgraduate


Educational Course in Radiation Protection and the
Safety of Radiation Sources (PGEC), Training
Course Series 18, IAEA, Vienna (2002)

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