Simulation studies of the HADES first level trigger PART II: Performance in hadron induced reactions

The HADES first level trigger is studied for the system p+Ni at a beam energy of 2 AGeV. The timing properties of the trigger signal are reported. The efficiency loss due to deadtime is specified. A trigger requirement of a time overlap window with the start detector is described. The trigger rates for different overlap windows are given.Comment: 10 pages, documentstyle[epsfig]{elsart}, 2 postscript figures included; Submitted to Nucl. Instr. and Meth.

Radiometric Determination of Uranium in Natural Waters after Enrichment and Separation by Cation-Exchange and Liquid-Liquid Extraction

The alpha-radiometric determination of uranium after its pre-concentration from natural water samples using the cation-exchange resin Chelex-100, its selective extraction by tributylphosphate and electrodeposition on stainless steel discs is reported. The validity of the separation procedure and the chemical recoveries were checked by addition of uranium standard solution as well as by tracing with U-232. The average uranium yield was determined to be (97 +- 2) % for the cation-exchange, (95 +- 2) % for the liquid-liquid extraction, and more than 99% for the electrodeposition. Employing high-resolution alpha-spectroscopy, the measured activity of the U-238 and U-234 radioisotopes was found to be of similar magnitude; i.e. ~7 mBq/L and ~35 mBq/L for ground- and seawater samples, respectively. The energy resolution (FWHM) of the alpha-peaks was 22 keV, while the Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) was estimated to be 1 mBq/L (at the 95% confidence limit).Comment: 13 pages including 2 figures; To appear in Journal Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistr

Simulation studies of the HADES first level trigger PART I: Performance in heavy-ion induced reaction

The first level trigger of the HADES spectrometer is studied for the heavy-ion collision systems Au+Au and Ne+Ne. The trigger efficiency for central events is given in dependence of the imposed charged particle multiplicity condition. The timing properties of the trigger signal are described. The losses due to deadtime are specified. Finally, the first level trigger rate is reported.Comment: 27 pages, documentstyle[epsfig]{elsart}, 11 postscript figures included; Submitted to Nucl. Instr. and Meth.

A versatile dielectron trigger for nucleon-nucleon and nucleus-nucleus collisions

A novel approach for a versatile first level dielectron trigger is presented. This trigger operates in the low multiplicity environment of nucleon-nucleon reactions as well as in the high multiplicity situation of nucleus-nucleus collisions. For optimal trigger performance, time of flight conditions for the two fastest particles of the event are combined with event multiplicity requirements. The dielectron trigger efficiency is given. The event reduction factor of such a trigger approach is studied for a low, a medium and a high multiplicity environment. The impact parameter dependence of the event reduction is given. The timing properties of the trigger signal are described. The losses due to deadtime are specified. Finally, the first level trigger rate is reported.Comment: documentstyle[epsfig]{elsart}, 28 pages, 12 postscript figures included; Accepted by Nucl. Instr. and Meth.

Gamma radiation measurements and dose rates in commercially-used natural tiling rocks (granites)

The gamma radiation in samples of a variety of natural tiling rocks (granites) imported in Cyprus for use in the building industry was measured, employing high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. The rock samples were pulverized, sealed in 1 litre plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory with an accumulating time between 10 and 14 hours each. From the measured gamma-ray spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range from 1 to 906 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 1 to 588 Bq/kg) and K-40 (from 50 to 1606 Bq/kg). The total absorbed dose rates in air calculated from the concentrations of the three radionuclides, Th-232 and U-238 series and K-40, ranged from 7 to 1209 nGy/h for full utilization of the materials, from 4 to 605 nGy/h for half utilization and from 2 to 302 nGy/h for one quarter utilization. The total effective dose rates per person indoors were determined to be between 0.02 to 2.97 mSv/y for half utilization of the materials. Applying dose criteria recently recommended by the EU for superficial materials, 25 of the samples meet the exemption dose limit of 0.3 mSv/y, two of them meet the upper dose limit of 1 mSv/y and only one exceeds clearly this limit.Comment: 22 pages including 2 tables and 4 figures; improved text including new references. To appear in Journ. of Env. Radioactivit

Gamma-ray measurements of naturally occurring radioactive samples from Cyprus characteristic geological rocks

Using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy, the terrestrial gamma radiation in all the predominant types of geological rock formations appearing in Cyprus was measured. Soil samples were collected from each rock type, sealed in 1-litre plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory for 24 hours each. From the measured gamma-ray spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range from 1.3 to 52.8 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 0.9 to 90.3 Bq/kg) and K-40 (from 13 to 894 Bq/kg). Elemental concentrations mean values of (2.8 +- 0.7) ppm, (1.3 +- 0.3) ppm and (0.6 +- 0.1) % were extracted, for thorium, uranium and potassium, respectively. Absorbed dose rates in air outdoors were calculated to be in the range of 0.1-50 nGy/h, depending on the geological features, with an overall mean value of (14.7 +- 7.3) nGy/h. The corresponding effective dose rates per person outdoors were estimated to be between 0.1 and 61.4 microSv/y, assuming a 20% occupancy factor.Comment: 27 pages including 3 tables and 4 figures; To appear in Radiation Measurement

Indoor and Outdoor in Situ High-Resolution Gamma Radiation Measurements in Urban Areas of Cyprus

In situ, high-resolution, gamma-ray spectrometry of a total number of 70 outdoor and 20 indoor representative measurements were performed in preselected, common locations of the main urban areas of Cyprus. Specific activities and gamma absorbed dose rates in air due to the naturally occurring radionuclides of Th-232 and U-238 series, and K-40 are determined and discussed. Effective dose rate to the Cyprus population due to terrestrial gamma radiation is derived directly from this work. The results obtained outdoors match very well with those derived previously by high-resolution gamma spectrometry of soil samples, which were collected from the main island bedrock surface. This implies that the construction and building materials in urban areas do not affect the external gamma dose rate; thus they are mostly of local origin. Finally, the indoor/outdoor gamma dose ratio was found to be 1.4 +- 0.5

A Comprehensive Study of Natural Gamma Radioactivity Levels and Associated Dose Rates from Surface Soils in Cyprus

A survey was carried out to determine activity concentration levels and associated dose rates from the naturally occurring radionuclides Th-232, U-238, and K-40, in the various geological formations appearing throughout the geographically accessible area of Cyprus, by means of high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A total number of 115 representative soil samples were collected from all over the bedrock surface of the island, based on the different lithological units of the study area, sieved through a fine mesh, sealed in 1000-mL plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory with respect to their gamma radioactivity for a counting time of 18 hours each. From the measured spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range from 1.0x10^-2 to 39.8 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 1.0x10^-2 to 39.3 Bq/kg) and K-40 (from 4.0x10^-2 to 565.8 Bq/kg). Gamma absorbed dose rates in air outdoors were calculated to be in the range of 1.1x10^-2 - 51.3 nGy/h, depending on the geological features, with an overall mean value of 8.7 nGy/h and a standard deviation of 8.4 nGy/h. This value is by a factor of about 7 below the corresponding population-weighted world-averaged value of 60 nGy/h reported by UNSCEAR (2000), and one of the lowest that has been reported from similar investigations worldwide. Assuming a 20% occupancy factor, the corresponding effective dose rates outdoors equivalent to the population were calculated to be between 1.3x10^-2 and 62.9 micro Sv/y, with an arithmetic mean value of 10.7 micro Sv/y and a standard deviation of 10.3 micro Sv/y.Comment: 25 pages including 3 tables and 5 figures; shortened final version; accepted by Radiation Protection Dosimetr

Gamma Radiation Measurements and Dose Rates in Commonly Used Building Materials in Cyprus

A first comprehensive study is presented on radioactivity concentrations and dose rates in 87 commonly used materials, manufactured or imported in Cyprus, for building purposes. The natural radioactivity of K-40, Th-232, U-238 and Ra-226 is determined using high-resolution gamma ray spectroscopy. The respective dose rates and the associated radiological effect indices are also calculated. A comparison of the measured specific activity values with the corresponding world average values shows that most of them are below the world average activity values. The annual indoor effective dose rates received by an individual from three measured imported granites and four measured imported ceramics are found to be higher than the world upper limit value of 1 mSv y-1. Hence, these materials should have a restricted use according to their corresponding calculated activity concentration index values and the related EC 1999 guidelines.Comment: 17 pages including 2 tables and 3 figures; Accepted by Radiation Protection Dosimetr

Indoor radon (Rn-222) concentration measurements in Cyprus using high-sensitivity portable detectors

Using high--sensitivity radon (Rn-222) portable detectors (passive electronic devices of the type RADIM3), the airborne Rn-222 concentration in the interior of various Cypriot buildings and dwellings was measured. For each preselected building and dwelling, a calibrated detector was put into a closed room, and the Rn-222 concentration was registered in sampling intervals of 2 to 4 hours for a total counting time of typically 48 hours. Rn-222 activity concentrations were found to be in the range of 6.2 to 102.8 Bq/m**3, with an overall arithmetic mean value of (19.3 +- 14.7) Bq/m**3. This value is by a factor of two below the world average (population-weighted) value of 39 Bq/m**3. The total annual effective dose equivalent to the Cypriot population was calculated to be between 0.16 and 2.6 mSv with an overall arithmetic mean value of (0.49 +- 0.37) mSv.Comment: 21 pages including 2 tables and 4 figures; minor changes including new references. To appear in Journ. of Env. Radioactivit