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Description
Education of students about radon can rise awareness on this topic in lay public. Experience is the best teacher, therefore teaching about radon is best supplemented by radon measurement. Didactic radon measurement method based on analysis of digital CR-39 detector image has been used succesfully in order to familiarize students with basic principles of SSNTD and radon. In the experiment, students measure radon concentration in their homes by track detector. After detector exposure and leaching, they determine track density by two methods. Firstly, by manually counting number of tracks in each 1 mm2 grid cell and secondly, using ImageJ software. Calculation of radon concentration from track density is performed in standard way.
This contribution presents preliminary results of comparison measurements. Batch of standard CR-39 detectors was exposed to radon in a radon chamber, with continuous monitoring of radon concentration by AlphaGuard analyser. CR-39 detectors were etched and analysed by standard certified method, radon concentration and track density were determined. Subsequently, detectors were scanned by digital microscope and composite detector images were produced. Image analysis was performed by visual image assesment and digital image analysis using ImageJ software. Acquired results of track density were compared with the results from standard certified method. Preliminary results show good agreement between results, therefore justifying the use of standard calibration factors provided by detector manufacturer for the purpose of didactic analysis. However, further research on the subject is needed.
Keywords: CR-39, radon, didactic experiments, ImageJ
Acknowledgement: This work was supported by Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic under research contract KEGA 009TU Z-4/2022.