Radioactive Isotope Identification

A cloud chamber allows the naked eye to observe the beta- particle track produced from certain radioactive isotopes. These cloud chambers can be used during radiation education, as they allow beta emitting isotopes to be seen. Within the apparatus, the white track that forms as a result of alcohol condensation, codenstates on the ions. These ions are left by electrons released from a radioactive isotope. In this experiment, a cloud chamber apparatus was placed under the conditions of a magnetic field. When a beta isotope is inserted into the chamber, the magnetic field should bend the beta-particle track. By measuring the radius of curvature of the electron tracks, the velocity is then observed. This velocity of the beta particle can then be used to calculate the kinetic energy, and ultimately can be utilized to identify the isotope.
The understanding of the methodology for identifying isotopes, nuclear waste cleanup can be effectively handled. In cases of environmental radioactivity, Geiger counters can only identify regions that are contaminated, as well as the number of radioactive particles per second within the region. Unfortunately they fail to determine the energy of each isotope. The identification of radioisotopes aid in the handling of cleanup and safety precautions.
This thesis focuses on the hardware and construction of the apparatus used, diving into electronics and particle physics. The software as well as future data collection and analysis will be conducted by Natjalia Bogdanovic, for defense in Spring 2020.