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Zubair HT, Bradley DA, Khairina MD, Oresegun A, Basaif A, Othman J, Rifiat R, Hamidi F, Rahman L, Ezzadeen A, Ibrahim SA, Mansor S, Alkhorayef M, Abdul-Rashid HA. An extendable optical fibre probe survey meter for naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) and other weak emitters. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11918. [PMID: 37488183 PMCID: PMC10366106 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39180-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a radioluminescence-based survey meter for use in industries in which there is involvement in naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), also in support of those needing to detect other weak emitters of radiation. The functionality of the system confronts particular shortcomings of the handheld survey meters that are currently being made use of. The device couples a LYSO:Ce scintillator with a photodetector via a polymer optical fibre waveguide, allowing for "intrinsically safe" inspection within pipework, separators, valves and other such component pieces. The small-diameter optical fibre probe is electrically passive, immune to electromagnetic interference, and chemically inert. The readout circuit is entirely incorporated within a handheld casing housing a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detection circuit and a microprocessor circuit connected to an LCD display. A 15 m long flexible PMMA optical fibre waveguide is butt coupled to an ABS plastic probe that retains the LYSO:Ce scintillator. Initial tests have included the use of lab-based mixed gamma-ray sources, measurements being made in concert with a reference conventional GM survey-meter. Characterization, via NORM sources at a decontamination facility, has shown useful sensitivity, covering the dose-rate range 0.10- to 28 µSv h-1 (R-squared 0.966), extending to 80 µSv/h as demonstrated in use of a Cs-137 source. The system is shown to provide an effective tool for detection of radioactivity within hard to access locations, in particular for sources emitting at low radiation levels, down to values that approach background.
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Affiliation(s)
- H T Zubair
- Fibre Optics Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Jalan Multimedia, 63100, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
- Lumisyns Sdn Bhd, 47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - D A Bradley
- Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, Sunway University, 46150, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - M D Khairina
- Lumisyns Sdn Bhd, 47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Adebiyi Oresegun
- Fibre Optics Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Jalan Multimedia, 63100, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
| | - A Basaif
- Fibre Optics Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Jalan Multimedia, 63100, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
| | - J Othman
- Alypz Sdn Bhd, Jalan Industri USJ 1/1, Taman Perindustrian USJ 1, 47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - R Rifiat
- Alypz Sdn Bhd, Jalan Industri USJ 1/1, Taman Perindustrian USJ 1, 47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - F Hamidi
- Alypz Sdn Bhd, Jalan Industri USJ 1/1, Taman Perindustrian USJ 1, 47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - L Rahman
- Alypz Sdn Bhd, Jalan Industri USJ 1/1, Taman Perindustrian USJ 1, 47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - A Ezzadeen
- Alypz Sdn Bhd, Jalan Industri USJ 1/1, Taman Perindustrian USJ 1, 47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - S A Ibrahim
- Fibre Optics Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Jalan Multimedia, 63100, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
| | - S Mansor
- Fibre Optics Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Jalan Multimedia, 63100, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
| | - M Alkhorayef
- Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O Box 10219, 11433, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - H A Abdul-Rashid
- Fibre Optics Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Jalan Multimedia, 63100, Cyberjaya, Malaysia.
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Zubair H, Rifiat R, Oresegun A, Hamidi F, Othman J, Khairina M, Basaif A, Ibrahim S, Abdul-Rashid H, Bradley D. Fiber optic coupled survey meter for NORM and low-level radioactivity monitoring. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2021.109682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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