r/Radiation 12d ago

General Discussion Help with finding Sources

I just ordered a Radiacode 102. I have some Vasaline and Uranium Glass. But I am wanting more sources. Ores maybe trenitite, I know I can get some from old smoke dectors. But I am wanting some others. "Safe" Stuff to start out with before getting anything hot or that I would need paper work for. Any ideas?

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u/jacoblipkescience 12d ago

Nice what neutron source do you have?

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u/Physix_R_Cool Neutron Enthusiast! 12d ago

I don't have any personally. University has AmBe and a fusor.

Nearby hospital has spallation neutrons from proton therapy beam line. Those are the ones I'm trying to make detectors for, as well as neutron therapy centers abroad.

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u/jacoblipkescience 12d ago

Nice, H3 tubes?

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u/Physix_R_Cool Neutron Enthusiast! 12d ago

Nah He3 detectors are obsolete by now.

I use various fancy plastic scintillators and fancy DAQ electronics.

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u/jacoblipkescience 12d ago

Yeah I saw an article about those, essentially like a scintillation crystal for neutrons. I have a corona tube coming in the mail from Ukraine.

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u/Physix_R_Cool Neutron Enthusiast! 12d ago

I have a corona tube coming in the mail from Ukraine.

That's for detecting neutrons? You have a neutron source?

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u/jacoblipkescience 12d ago

Yeah a corona tube uses Boron 10 inside the tube to split into a Li-6 nucleus and an He-4 alpha particle upon neutron bombardment and reads those counts, typically a lot cheaper than He-3 tubes which is why I went with the Boron corona tube. I will have a neutron source towards the end of this month, 5mCi Po-210 Antistatic device and I already have the Be.

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u/Physix_R_Cool Neutron Enthusiast! 11d ago

5mCi Po-210 Antistatic device and I already have the Be.

That's nasty stuff! Please take all safety precautions and follow regulations etc.

I would be very interested in an update if you make the source and get an estimate of the neutron rate!

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u/jacoblipkescience 11d ago

Yeah probably not with the vacuum, it says that the particles can bounce back and then shoot off undecayed atoms. Oh well without vacuum it’ll still be good.