MEASUREMENT OF THE POTENTIAL ALPHA ENERGY CONCENTRATION OF RADON DAUGHTERS BY MEANS OF A DOUBLE CHAMBER SYSTEM AND SOLID-STATE NUCLEAR TRACK DETECTORS

The potential alpha energy concentration of radon daughters can be det ermined by means of the difference in the track densities measured wit h one unfiltered and one filtered solid state nuclear track detector w ithin appropriate dosemeter chambers. Assuming a certain radon activit y concentration in air, both the corresponding potential alpha energy concentration as well as the difference in the track density rates are functions of the equilibrium factor. Therefore, the dosemeter respons e also depends on the equilibrium factor. For a special type of double chamber the dosemeter response was calculated and experimentally inve stigated as a function of the equilibrium factor. The results show tha t the response is nearly constant within +/-20% for equilibrium factor s between 0.25 and 1. Conclusions are drawn on the conditions at which the dosemeter response can be approximated by a constant value. In th is case the dosemeter calibration could easily be performed using acti ve working level monitors.