Uncertainty in radon measurements with CR39 detector due to unknown deposition of Po-218

Uncertainty in radon measurements using the CR39 solid-state nuclear track detector in chambers is introduced by the unknown fraction f(1) of Po-218 t hat deposited onto the inner chamber walls. This uncertainty was estimated for cylindrical chambers with different size in the present study. It was f ound that the uncertainty increased with the chamber height and radius. For short chambers with a height H = 2 cm the uncertainty was less than 5%, wh ile in tall chambers with H = 7 cm it could be up to 17%. The radial track density on the CR39 detector inside the diffusion chamber was also found to be dependent on the fraction f(1). In this work, some examples of this dep endence are shown. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.