The
DT-590 Plutonium Probe is part of a military PDR-56F
RADIAC set and is available as a separate part from time to time, and
from Lee Frank @ Surplusstuff.
The scintillator crystal that comes in the '590A is a very thin one,
made
for low energy X-Rays only, as from Pu-239. Since we don't have a lot
of
need for a Plutonium detector in these parts, it was decided to make
this sturdily made probe into
a more or less standard medium and high energy detector.
As
the project developed, it became obvious that this probe case and PMT could
be used with a multitude of different crystals, for testing
and
actual radiation detection use.
As
mentioned, the original crystal is only 1/8" thick at most, but there is
room for at least a 2" long crystal if the small un-needed
circuit board is first
removed from the housing. Rewiring the base to a standard 950+ single
coax
feed like we use on all our probes was easy, and a BNC was added to
the rear
cap, once the handle fitting there was removed on the lathe ( a
hacksaw will suffice). Removing the original RADIAC
electrical
connections left a hole on the side, which was covered with a small metal
plate attached with black epoxy. Be sure to use a light tight cover here.
Inside the original probe is a circuit board which contains
preamplification and energy discrimination functions that we do not need.
By
removing the circuit board, space is made for different thickness crystals
with the original total overall length retained by the use of blank spacer
plates in its place.
Also on the lathe we turned the square block of plastic scintillator
into a cylindrical shape, being
careful not to scar up the polished ends. Turning the scintillator
plastic
on a lathe is very similar to any Plexiglas type product, you just
have to
use a sharp tool, and keep the speed low so friction doesn't melt the
plastic and mess up your work.
Once the final shape was achieved, the thing went together just as if
it had
been designed that way from the beginning.
The front cap already had a metal screen "window" so I
decided to add a nice
Zinc Sulfide alpha screen at the very front of the plastic, hoping
that the
light generated by it would go through the plastic Gamma scintillator
as if
it were a light pipe. Works just fine. A thin Mylar light shield is
installed just behind the metal screen. This crystal now provides
alpha-beta-gamma-X-Ray
detection like the expensive ones being sold on ePay, at less than $100 USD
investment.
I
might add that this article was first published 5 or 6 years ago, being the
very first "Universal Probe" anywhere.
Basically I wanted to report the project to stimulate ideas for others who
may have one of these "X-Ray Probes".
Not
only is it an excellent working probe, it makes a great test bed for
experimental work with various crystals.
Since
the original project, all sorts of crystals have been used in this rig
including the super dense BGO and BaF2.
Original
Probe Mechanical Drawing:
Radiac
Set AN/PDR 56F Manual:
Have Fun
Geo