A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF BARE ALPHA TRACK DETECTORS

Bare alpha track detectors are sensitive to radon progeny as well as t o radon gas. This paper reports the test results for two brands of bar e alpha track detectors that received several radon exposures at three progeny concentrations. The results show a relationship that is a lin ear combination of both the radon gas and the radon progeny concentrat ions. The reported radon concentration depended on the equilibrium fac tor assumed by the processor. The sensitivity of bare alpha track dete ctors increases with altitude, but this is a minor, correctable effect compared to the equilibrium factor.