Speaker
Prof.
Gian-Franco Dalla Betta
(University of Trento and INFN and RSENS)
Description
A battery-powered, wireless Radon sensor has been designed and realized using a Bipolar Junction Transistor a radiation detector fabricated on a high-resistivity-silicon substrate. Radon daughters are collected on the detector surface electrostatically. Thanks to the BJT excellent signal-to-noise ratio and internal amplification, real-time alpha particle detection is possible using a simple readout electronics, which records the alpha particle arrival time and charge spectrum. Readout is based on a commercial chip, providing charge integration and 20-bit A/D conversion, coupled to a microcontroller. The system can keep trace of particle arrival times thanks to a real-time clock . Since WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) is of great appeal for wide-area monitoring, environmental tests and also for building measurements, the readout system was provided with wireless communication capabilities suitable for star-arranged networks (single-point-to-multi-point). The RF module implements a communication system based on a commercial standard, offering advantages in terms of a simple interface with the MSP430-family controllers, low development costs and low power consumption. Functional tests have been carried out in a Radon camera using Autumnite stones as a Radon source), and an AlphaGUARD Radon Monitor as a reference sensor. Tests demonstrated a good sensitivity of 0.7-1.2 CPH/(100 Bq/m$^3$) and the capability to perform alpha spectroscopy of Radon daughters.
Primary author
Prof.
Gian-Franco Dalla Betta
(University of Trento and INFN and RSENS)
Co-authors
Dr
Alberto Lusiani
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Aldo Del Gratta
(University of Pisa)
Dr
Andrea Bosi
(RSENS)
Dr
Antonino Picciotto
(FBK)
Prof.
Carlo Angelini
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Claudio Piemonte
(FBK)
Dr
Davide Saguatti
(University of Modena/Reggio Emilia and RSENS)
Dr
Eugenio Paoloni
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Fabio Morsani
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Filippo Bosi
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Francesco D'Errico
(University of Pisa)
Prof.
Francesco Forti
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Gabriele Giacomini
(FBK)
Prof.
Giorgio Curzio
(University of Pisa)
Prof.
Giovanni Batignani
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Prof.
Giovanni Verzellesi
(University of Modena/Reggio Emilia and RSENS)
Dr
Giuliana Rizzo
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Irina Rachevskaia
(University of Trieste and INFN)
Dr
John Walsh
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Luca Bidinelli
(RSENS)
Prof.
Luciano Bosisio
(University of Trieste and INFN)
Prof.
Luigi Rovati
(University of Modena/Reggio Emilia and RSENS)
Prof.
Marcello A. Giorgi
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Matteo Bonaiuti
(University of Modena/Reggio Emilia and RSENS)
Dr
Maurizio Boscardin
(FBK)
Dr
Nicola Zorzi
(FBK)
Dr
Riccardo Ciolini
(University of Pisa)
Dr
Stefano Bettarini
(University of Pisa and INFN)
Dr
Vladyslav Tyzhnevyi
(University of Trento)
