Estimate the alpha particle flux from an Al2O3 package containing 1 ppm U^238 per gram of ceramic. Assume that only 25% of the alphas generated escape the package from a depth of 14 mm or less, and that the density of A12O3 is 3.9 g/cm^3.

Question

Estimate the alpha particle flux from an [latex]Al_2O_3[/latex] package containing 1 ppm [latex]U^{238}[/latex] per gram of ceramic. Assume that only 25% of the alphas generated escape the package from a depth of [latex]14 \mu m[/latex] or less, and that the density of [latex]Al_2O_3[/latex] is [latex]3.9 g/cm^3[/latex].

Accepted Answer

In [latex]1 \ cm^3[/latex] of [latex]Al_2O_3[/latex] there are [latex]1 imes 10^{-6} imes 1 \ cm^{3} imes 3.9 \ g/cm^3=3.9 imes 10^{-6}g[/latex] of [latex]U^{238}[/latex] . This corresponds to [latex]6.85 imes 10^{-7}Ci/g imes 3.9 imes 10^{-6}g/cm^3=2.67 imes 10^{-12}Ci/cm^3[/latex] , or an equivalent radiation flux of [latex]2.67 imes 10^{-12}Ci/cm^3 imes 14 imes 10^{-4}cm=3.74 imes 10^{-15}Ci/cm^3[/latex].
Collecting terms, [latex]8 \alpha P/dis imes 0.25 imes (3.74 imes 10^{-15}Ci/cm^2) imes (2.2 imes 10^{12}dpm/Ci) imes 60 min/h=0.98 \alpha P/cm^2-h[/latex]

Question 7.2: Estimate the alpha particle flux from an Al2O3 package conta...

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