Introduction to Survey Instruments

Oliver Causey
18OCT2016

Decision Criteria
Fisher E600: 50.6 cpm
Fluke 451: 0.109 Sv/h
Efficiencies
Efficiencies are calculated for the E600 unit measurements. Measurements were taken
using button sources at approximately 1 cm from the pancake probes center. Calculating
efficiencies for the 451 unit does not make sense as this unit measures dose rate with an
ionization chamber.
Source
204
Tl
137
Cs
60
Co
54
Mn
22
Na
133
Ba

Efficiency
2.12 0.02 %
9.5191 0.0003%
1.0398 0.0002%
4.37 .005%
6.89 0.003%
0.6527 .00006%

Table 1 E600 Efficiencies for Button Sources

Counts diminish drastically when the pancake probe is turned 180 degrees away from the
source. The sources containing only beta and low energy photons have nearly no signal in this
orientation. It appears that either the beta particles cannot penetrate the plastic or the company
inserts some material to eliminate beta signals for different applications.

Count Rate vs Sweep Rate

The detectors were used at different sweeping rates for this part of the experiment by
passing the sensitive portion of the detector over the sources. The rates are approximate; they are
0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 m/s. Figure 1 and Figure 2 show counts and dose rates as a function of sweep
rate for the detectors.
Exposure readings appear to be somehow inversely related to a function of the sweep
speed as is expected. However, for low level sources (not graphed) we see an increase in
exposure rates as sweep speed is increased. This is likely noise due to the motion of the
detectors. This means that neither of these detectors are ideal at any sweep rate at or above 0.25

m/s. Slower rates may allow for the use of these detectors. But a device to measure precise
sweep speeds should be used for further analysis.
400000

40000

Activity (cpm)
Th Table

4000
Tl204

Cs137

Co60

Mn54

Na22

Ba133

400

40

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Approximate Sweep Speed (m/s)

Figure 1 E600 Activity vs Sweep Rate

0.8

0.9

2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2

Dose Rate (uSv/h)

Cs137

1
Co60

0.8

Na22

Ba133

Po210

0.6
0.4
0.2
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Approximate Sweep Speed (m/s)

Figure 2 Fluke 451 Dose Rate vs Sweep Rate

0.8

0.9