[sdiy] Alpha Particle detectors

[Grant Richter]

Yes, I know this is an ridiculously complex way to replace a zener connected
2N3904.

I just like the idea of using atomic decay to generate music.

"Death of Atoms = Birth of Music"

It started by finding this link for a random generator:

http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/Research/Security/seminars/1998/1998-11-03.html

Which is probably a photodiode internally doped with an alpha emitter.
Smoke detectors contain Americium 241 and are easy to get:

http://www.llrc.org/smokedetect/smokedetectpage.htm

Also chemical scintillators which emit photons when struck by particles are
available:

http://www.apace-science.com/ast/index.htm

You can get bulk isotopes here (with the right permits):

http://www.iichinc.com/index.htm

Is there an easier way to detect alpha particles than a photodiode
scintillation counter? (The scintillation phosphors are rather expensive as
you would expect) How about cutting the top off of the photodiode?

Would the phosphor from an old CRT work since the Americium is a weak beta
emitter also?

Thanks for any info or suggestions.