Spectral Identification of Compounds Formed by Nuclear Radiation in Air for Remote Fallout Survey.

Abstract

OBALTNITROGEN OXIDE(N2O), NITROGEN OXIDE(NO2), COBALT 60, POLONIUM 210, IONIZING RADIATIONMeasurements of the nitrogen compound formation produced by ionizing irradiation on air at 300K and 760 mmHg are reported. Infrared spectrophotometry measurements of dry air exposed to 0.230 curie polonium-210 showed that nitrous oxide and nitrogen pentoxide were the initial product formed. There were indications that the decomposition of the nitrogen pentoxide following 25 hours of exposure enhanced the growth of nitrogen dioxide. Throughout the irradiation period, nitrous oxide was a major and the most stable constituent peak. Infrared spectra of air exposed to lower activity values 0.115 and 0.050 curie also exhibited nitrous oxide as a dominant constituent. The results obtained from irradiating air with the three alpha particle sources indicated that the formation of nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide was dose rate dependent.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0753917

Entities

People

  • Milton Harmatz

Organizations

  • United States Army Communications-Electronics Command

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alpha Particles
  • Dose Rate
  • Electromagnetic Spectra
  • Infrared Spectra
  • Nitrogen
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Nuclear Radiation
  • Oxides
  • Polonium
  • Radiation
  • Spectra

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Organic Chemistry