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A Lucas cell is a type of scintillation counter.^[1] It is used to acquire a gas sample, filter out the radioactive particulates through a special filter and then count the radioactive decay. The inside of the gas chamber is coated with ZnS(Ag) - a chemical that emits light when struck by alpha particles. A photomultiplier tube at the top of the chamber counts the photons and sends the count to a data logger.

Radon measurement

A Lucas cell can be used to measure radon gas concentrations.^[2] Radon itself is an inert gas. Its danger lies in the fact that it undergoes radioactive decay. The radon decay products may lodge in the lungs and bombard them with alpha and beta particles, thus increasing the risk of lung cancer.

References

^ Lucas, Henry (1957). "Improved Low-Level Alpha-Scintillation Counter for Radon". Review of Scientific Instruments. 28 (9): 680–683. Bibcode:1957RScI...28..680L. doi:10.1063/1.1715975.
^ Abbady, A.; Abbady, Adel G.E.; Michel, Rolf (2004). "Indoor radon measurement with The Lucas cell technique". Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 61 (6): 1469–1475. Bibcode:2004AppRI..61.1469A. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.03.065. ISSN 0969-8043. PMID 15388149.

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[1] Lucas, Henry (1957). "Improved Low-Level Alpha-Scintillation Counter for Radon". Review of Scientific Instruments. 28 (9): 680–683. Bibcode:1957RScI...28..680L. doi:10.1063/1.1715975.

[AbbadyAbbady2004-2] Abbady, A.; Abbady, Adel G.E.; Michel, Rolf (2004). "Indoor radon measurement with The Lucas cell technique". Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 61 (6): 1469–1475. Bibcode:2004AppRI..61.1469A. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.03.065. ISSN 0969-8043. PMID 15388149.

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+[[File:Lucas Cell Number 7.jpg|thumb|576x576px|Actual Lucas cell]]
-{{Unreferenced|date=January 2010}}
-A '''Lucas cell''' is a type of [[scintillation]] [[particle detector]]. It is used to grab a gas sample, filter out the radioactive particulates through a special filter and then count the radioactive decay. It is frequently used to measure [[radon]] gas concentrations. The inside of the gas chamber is coated with [[silver]]-activated [[zinc sulfide]] or ZnS(Ag) that scintillates or shines when struck by [[alpha particles]]. A [[photomultiplier]] tube at the top of the chamber counts the [[photons]] and sends the count to the data logger or counter.
+A '''Lucas cell''' is a type of [[scintillation counter]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=Henry |last=Lucas |journal=Review of Scientific Instruments |volume=28 |issue=9 |pages=680–683 |year=1957|bibcode = 1957RScI...28..680L |doi = 10.1063/1.1715975 |title=Improved Low-Level Alpha-Scintillation Counter for Radon}}</ref> It is used to acquire a gas sample, filter out the radioactive particulates through a special filter and then count the radioactive decay.  The inside of the gas chamber is coated with  [[zinc sulfide|ZnS]]([[silver|Ag]]) - a chemical that emits light when struck by [[alpha particles]]. A [[photomultiplier]] tube at the top of the chamber counts the [[photons]] and sends the count to a data logger.
+==Radon measurement==
-[[Radon]] itself is an [[inert gas]]. Its danger lies in the fact that it is radioactive and its radioactive daughters accumulate in the dust of enclosed areas. The radon [[Radioactive decay|daughters]] may lodge in the lungs and bombard them with [[alpha radiation|alpha]] and [[beta radiation]].
+A Lucas cell can be used to measure [[radon]] gas concentrations.<ref name="AbbadyAbbady2004">{{cite journal|last1=Abbady|first1=A.|last2=Abbady|first2=Adel G.E.|last3=Michel|first3=Rolf|title=Indoor radon measurement with The Lucas cell technique|journal=Applied Radiation and Isotopes|volume=61|issue=6|year=2004|pages=1469–1475|issn=0969-8043|doi=10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.03.065|pmid=15388149|bibcode=2004AppRI..61.1469A }}</ref>
+Radon itself is an [[inert gas]]. Its danger lies in the fact that it undergoes [[radioactive decay]]. The radon decay products may lodge in the lungs and bombard them with [[alpha radiation|alpha]] and [[beta radiation|beta]] particles, thus increasing the risk of [[lung cancer]].
-[[Image:LucasCell.jpg|thumb|Homemade Lucas cell]]
 ==See also==
-* [[Alpha particles]]
-* [[Scintillation counter]]
 * [[Geiger counter]]
-* [[Radon gas]]
+* [[Counting efficiency]]
-* [[Photomultiplier]]
 ==References==
+{{Reflist}}
-{{Reflist}}  A complete article by Henry Lucas can be found in Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 28, #9 pp (680-683 (1957)
-== External links ==
-*http://www.albert-cordova.com/lucas/lucascell.htm
-*http://www.blackcatsystems.com/GM/articles/radon_thoron.html
-*http://enhs.umn.edu/hazards/hazardssite/radon/radonmeasure.html
-*http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TJ0-4CBDB5C-1&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2004&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=1ba2f4b547066de782ebb7c774375b78&searchtype=a
-*http://www.finderschoice.com/radon/instruments.php
-[[Category:Radioactivity]]
 [[Category:Particle detectors]]
-[[Category:Spectroscopy]]
+[[Category:Ionising radiation detectors]]
-{{chemistry-stub}}
 {{nuclear-stub}}
-{{measurement-stub}}