Results from prototypes of environmental and health alarm devices based on gaseous detectors operating in air in counting mode

Georges Charpak (1) , Patrick Benaben (2) , Philippe Breuil (3, 4, 5) , Paolo Martinengo (6) , Eugenio Nappi (1) , Vladimir Peskov (6)

1 CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research
2 PS2-ENSMSE - Département Packaging et Supports Souples
3 LPMG-EMSE - Laboratoire des Procédés en Milieux Granulaires
4 SPIN-ENSMSE - Centre Sciences des Processus Industriels et Naturels
5 PRESSIC - Procédés et REactivité des Systèmes Solide-gaz, Instrumentation et Capteurs
6 CERN - PH Division CERN

We have developed and successfully tested two prototypes of detectors of dangerous gases based on wire-type counters operating in air in avalanche mode: one is for radon (Rn) detection whereas the other one is for the detection of gases with an ionization potential less than the air components. Due to the operation in pulse counting mode these prototypes have sensitivities comparable to (in the case of the Rn detector) or much higher than (in the case of the detector for low ionization gases) the best commercial devices currently available on the market. We believe that due to their high sensitivity, simplicity and low cost such new detectors will find massive applications. One of them, discussed in this paper, could be the on-line monitoring of Rn for the prediction of earthquakes.

Mots clés: Gaseous detectors; Rn detection; Detection of dangerous gases

Domaines: Génie des procédés

Georges Charpak, Patrick Benaben, Philippe Breuil, Paolo Martinengo, Eugenio Nappi, et al.. Results from prototypes of environmental and health alarm devices based on gaseous detectors operating in air in counting mode. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2011, 628 (1), pp.197-189. ⟨10.1016/j.nima.2010.06.313⟩. ⟨hal-00560493⟩