Alpha-Particle Spectroscopy and Ranges in Air

Etim I.P., William E. S., Ekwe S.O.

Abstract: The present study investigated energies of alpha-particles emitted by the triple-alpha sources (239Pu, 241Am and 244Cm) in a vacuum and measure the alpha particle properties at different pressures. The absolute activities for the radioisotopes in the triple alpha source (239Pu, 241Am and 244Cm) were found to be 678?25?26?0s-1, 631?97?25?1s-1 and 146?08?12?1s-1 respectively with ranges experimentally found to be 4?29?2?1cm, 4?90?2?2cm and 5?33?2?3cm respectively in air at STP. These values compare very well with known values in air at STP. Increases in energy peak when Poison error is assumed (FWHM increases) leads to increase in air pressure; a condition of energy straggling in the broadening of the peaks was also observed.

Keywords: Air, Alpha particle, Energy peaks, Poison error, Radioisotope, Spectroscopy, Triple-alpha