[sdiy] Alpha Particle detectors

[matti]

On Tue, 24 Jul 2001, Grant Richter wrote:

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

we will patch together walls of modulars. and we will use patch cords.
black ones. and we will be impressive. and we will play a sine wave. a
pure sine wave and nothing more.

....

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

errr...think of the background noise of just light hittin the CRT. I have
a CRT here that hasn't been plugged in to anything in years and it still
glows from it's daily dose of sunlight through the windows. You'd need
eiher a large amount of americium together or a high gain amplifier; large
cost (and maybe health risk. but don't quote me, I don't even remember
which particle a beta particle is) or too much noise from the
light-ambience.


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