An imaging spectrometer based on high resolution microscopy of fluorescent aluminum oxide

Published

January 14, 2013

Author(s)

James A. Bartz, Cynthia J. Zeissler, V. V. Fomenko, Mark S. Akselrod

Abstract

Fluorescent Nuclear Track Detector (FNTD) technology was tested as an imaging and spectroscopic tool for radionuclide analysis. This investigation intended to distinguish between characteristic α-particles of 239Pu (5.2 MeV), 234U (4.8 MeV) and 238U (4.2 MeV). FNTDs are Al2O3:C,Mg single crystals with color centers that undergo radiochromic transformation. FNTD readout is non-destructive and is performed with laser scanning confocal fluorescent microscopy. Ionization events register in the detector as bright fluorescent features on a weak fluorescent background. Images were acquired at several incrementing depths in the detector to produce 3D data sets. Spectroscopic information was obtained by measuring α-particle range in the detector after 3D image reconstruction. The resolution of this technique is fundamentally limited by particle range straggling (about 3.8 % (k=1) at these α-particle energies). The spectroscopic line-width as full width at half maximum (FWHM) was determined to be 0.4 MeV enabling discrimination between the isotopes of interest.

Citation

Radiation Measurements

Volume

56

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

fluorescence, laser scanning confocal microscopy, imaging, hot particles, alpha particles, spectroscopy, aluminum oxide

Citation

Bartz, J. , Zeissler, C. , Fomenko, V. and Akselrod, M. (2013), An imaging spectrometer based on high resolution microscopy of fluorescent aluminum oxide, Radiation Measurements, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2013.01.041 (Accessed October 8, 2025)