t
502 0. of Research of the National Bureau of Standards (nia
1V. RESULTS ;

A total of 15 successful sets of observations wore obtained with
oquipmont of the type inst described, between July and Novemine 4
1938. A typical record, which was obtained duly 22, is shownin #
figuro 10, The record shows oxcellent agreement in results obtained
during both tho ascent and dosoont of the balloons, Tho ordinate
seale shows the actual nutnber of discharges per minute in the coun
ters, which for this particular equipment was 48 times the flashing
rato of tho noon tubo in the integrating cirouit, or 48 times the number
of cosmic-ray radio signals received at the ground station. The nuit
bor of counts required to flash the neon tube was determined by means
of a Cenco counter,

3000 q
ASCENT
oOESCENT
rm
¥
2
§}-2000 ,
& :
a
o :
g i
z
3
B}o00

edt engin f
BOS

i
200

\
cio)

‘The superregonerative rocotver i on the right. ‘The doteot

{anal of Research ofthe National Bureas of Standards Research Paper 1254

Faure 8.—Complete receiving oguapment.

tan clrewnt anointed hy the outynit of
a

acosiver win the conter, "Thy tayo recorder 18 on th

00 600

URE

PRESS!
Wwunceane

Fraynn 10,—Data oblained on a single ascent and descent, showing counts

minule plotted againet the atmospheric pressure in millibars, ”
A summary of all the results obtained is given in table 1. Colume
1 of the tablo givos the date on which the observations were
and column 2 gives the number of counts necessary to flash the
tubo of the integrating circuit, Column 3 shows the number
counts produced in each aot of equipment by 1 mg of radium
1m from the counters, Althou counters woro mado as neath?
alike as was reasonably possible, there are ovideutly real diffe
in the sensitivities of the counters. Those differences aro made spy
aront by comparing the standard deviation of the values of columa®
From their mean with the deviation ono would oxpect if an equivabeat
numbor of obsorvations were taken with 9 singlo countor under cam 4
stent condilions. ‘Tho expected standard deviation of o single obee
vation of N events, distributed ot random (that is, according |!

=z " mA
cae eave]

REFERENCE
OUBLET

REFERENCE,
pouBLeT

PRESSURE

Fraurn 9,—Sample of actual record on waxed laps.



CDoc

Mh 25

Roof of NBS. Experiment
being, conducted in the
distance - see balloon at
top of picture.


(ey 27 LOSE. LJ Or P71 en 2/7 Efe

CPAEL Shelf ss Lhe pecerrer ead

Fe fOf77 Ze re Petorder.
Shower @t Zee Cont re/s,
A”Alg,- : wecrrrtent eopecet

Was 4 GZ ‘
Onn acne of Vous Abana. whch.
re taken tog Shen o,


@ Avery low intonsity at pressures of about 5 mil

U.8. Darartwanr or Commercs Naztonat Bureau or Sranpanvs
RESEARCH PAPER RP1254

Pot of Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards, Volume 23,
November 1939

COSMIC-RAY OBSERVATIONS IN THE STRATOSPHERE
WITH HIGH-SPEED COUNTERS

By Leon F. Curtiss, Allen V. Astin, Leroy L, Stockman, and Burrell W. Brown

AssTRACT

By a modification of a method! reported previously, obsorvations of oosmia-ray
Islenslly at high altitudor havo boon made,

A Neher-Harper olreult: has boon used with relatively large Goigor-MaHor
teunters 80 that 2,000 to 3,000 counts per minute could bo recorded by moans of
dio equipment sont aloft attached to freo balloons, ‘The countars Wute stand
wdlzed in torms of tho radiation from 1 mg of radium ata distence of 11, and the
Buximum cosmic-ray intensity was found to be 0,66 perount of this intonalty,
‘This maximum wag found to ooour at an ‘mospherle pressurg of 0 millibars,

bars, roported In tha provious
per, 08 not observed in any of the 15 ascents in which the data reportod in the
resent paper were obtained,

CONTENTS

I, INTRODUCTION

Ina previous paper? results wore givon of cosmic-ray obsorvations
h the stratosphere, using small, low-speed Geiger-Mullor counters,
The counters were cntried aloft by sounding balloons, and the counts

% wre broadcast to a receiving station on the ground by a redio trans-
€ sitter also carried by the balloons. ‘The active yvolumo of oach

counter was approximately 1 em’, and the counting rate at the alti-
‘te of maximum intonsity was approximately 60 per minute, Since
the counting rate on the ground was less than ono per minute and

% co the time required for the equipment to reach the altitude of

saximum counting rate wns only 90 minutes, the results were subject
‘considerable statistical fluctuation.

ers, Rev, 6, 23 (1998),
weenie ee tlta,L 1, Saekanana, 3B, W. Brown, and 8. A. Korlt, Bhys, Tov, 84, 23 (1908).
585



doc: kis —_

54 Journal of esearch of the National ssurear of Stanaarus &

IL, CIRCUIT FOR GAMMA-RAY EXPOSURE METER

A diagram of tho circuit for operating and reading the output of y
Goiger-Miiller countor is shown in figuro 1, Since one object is ty
reduce weight, the powor transformer selected is the smallest
made commercially for the operation of radio sets. Tho secondary :
which is oonter-tapped, delivers a total a-c voltage‘of about 650 v
and will carry about 40 milliamporos, In addition, it has a 5-vollf
and & 6.3-volé filament winding. The problem of obtaining abou
1,200 volts and 160 volts d-c from this transformer’ is solved by usi
one-half the secondary to provide tho positive ower supply vol
and the complete secondary, connected to a voltage-doubling circu

om,
A

= 1200 volte

RF 88 volte

j= 0 to 200 yo; watt bulbs; G-Af—=vapor-filled Miller coGnter, Ti=6SL7; Ty=V Rit
‘inthe ete ¥ teat He sBlanan, Sa 5 Soe a aes Gi al
ile Sel te ogee ea
SIsRa: oOo ohn Du R000 oass that 00 lr; Zee, f00 oka”

as shown, to provide the highor negative voltage, Half-wavo reeth]
fication is used ia both eases. Tho lowor voltage, to supaly. the play
yoltages of tho amplifying and indicating circuit, is stabilized by
VR-160 voltago-rogulator tube. ‘The highor voltage, to provide th
operating potential for the Geiger-Miller counter, 1s stabilized by
Series of 1/10-watt noon lamps that bas been thoroughly by
operation on alternating current for at least 2 weeks. It has beet]
found that lamps so aged maintain the same constant voltago actos}
thoir terminals for ve
circuit connected as shown will show fluctuations unroadable on 4
1,600-volt cloctrostatic voltmotor when the primary voltage of th
transformer is variod from 100 to 130 velts. | ‘Tho.setual chango may
be as much as 5 to 10 volts. This is sufficient regulation for a Geiger
Miller tube with reasonably good plateau, and will produce a negligi!
‘le chango in the indication of a good counter.

When using Goiger-Millor countors of tho vapor-filled typo very
little amplification and leveling of pulses is required. Therefore, the
relatively simple circuit shown is entirely adequate. The first triod:
section of 7 provides the required amplification of the negative ule
from the counter G-M4, These pulses arc applied to tho grid of this
triode through s conventional resistance-capacity coupling.

long periods of time. A voltage-stabilizing

Proquoney Meter for Geiger-Miiller Counter 5B

pulsos a6 tho plate, now positive, aro sufficiont to saturate the socond
triode stage, which is operated at zero bias, Thorefore, the Positive
pulses applied to the grid of this triodo result in grid rectifications so

‘of thoak, that the main pulses at tho plato of this stage are positive, somewhat
: \

broadened, and of oqual height and width. As the triode sido of O;
bocomes positive, the diode sido accumulates an excess of positive
chargo which flows through the diodo to ground; thus, aftor the return
of tho plate of the second half of 7; to normal potential, a nogativo
. charge is loft at the diodo plate of C;, which flows through Ry to the
RC aircuit, chars ing it negalively. 2% serves to prevent the yulses from.
bypassing the diode by way of C, without rectification. Under these
conditions, an equal charge of negative sign is applicd to the condenser,
G,, for cach pulse, Sinco condonsor O; has a resistor, My, connectod
across it, the potential across tho condensor will riso to a constant
value for a constant rato of pulses from tho Geigor-Milllor countor.
Therefore, to obtain a reading proportional to tho rate of pulsos at
the Geigor-Miillor counter, a roliable clectroni¢. yoltmotor is required
to moasure the voliago across condonsor Cy. ‘I'his is provided by the
twin-triode 73, with the two sections connocted in a bridgo circuit with
a mictoammater, M, connected botweon the plato torminals of, tho
two sections. These triodes aro operated nt a nogative bias provided
through high-resistance cathodo rosistors Ay, and Ry in such a way
that the readings of the motor aro fairly indopondent of the character-
istics of the triode sections. A balancing potentiometer, Ry, is pro-
_ vided to adjust the circuit for tho residual eflocts of differonces between
the triode sections. This adjustmont is made with the Geiger-Milller
counter disconnected. In goneral, it need only be changed when

replacing a tubo. . - i

‘o balance out certain parasitic potentials arising from the use of a
diodo to rectify the pulses from the counter, the two grids of the twin
triode, 7, are connected in identical circuits, each 10 ono section of the
twin diode, 7;. In addition, it in desirable to compensate the blank
counting rato of Jargor Geigor-MUllor tubea so that the motor roads
zero in the absence of a source of radiation. This is dono by applying a
slight positive biss to the grid of the voltmetor tubo attached to the

Y condenser, C,, by a bleedor circuit composed of resistors Rig and Ris

This adjustment can be mado by propor scloction of Ris and Ire
- fora given Geigor-Milller tube and need be changed only whon
replacing this tubo.

‘he resultant circuit has tho following desirable characteristics:

1. The reading of the meter, M, is quite accurately proportional to
the rate of pulses from the counter, ‘Tho calibration of intensity of
radiation versus tho rending of tho metor is a straight lino passing
through tho origin in a correctly adjusted circuit. This ig shown in
figure 2, which is a typical calibration for one of theso circuits.

2, The roading of the meter is practically indopondont of tho a-c
mupply voltage in the range from 100 to 130 volts. This 30-volt chango
produces less than a 2 percont change in tho reading of tho moter.

3, No componont is operated abovo its normal rating, so that failure
af vacuum tubes, condonsers, and resistors is reduced to a minimum,

4, All potentials, both positive and nogative, ara obtained from one
trneforner, thom feducing tho woight and with no sacrifice in por-
formance.



Photo taken by
National Bureau of Standards

Van Ness Street
Washington, D.C.


EEOLCPA BULLETIN NO.03-11

Issue Date: November 19, 2002

Effective Date: November 19, 2002

Expiration Date: November 19, 2003

Subject: Additional Cancers Considered as Primary Cancers

Background: 20 CFR 30.5 (dd) (6) states that specified cancers are "the
physiological condition or conditions that are recognized by the National Cancer
Institute under those names or nomenclature, or under any previously accepted or
commonly used names or nomenclature.” The Department of Labor (DOL) forwarded a
list of six medical conditions to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their
review and classification to determine which conditions could be considered as
cancers under the EBEOICPA. The six medical conditions sent to NCI were:

myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia;

polycythemia vera with leukocytosis and thrombocytosis;
polycythemia rubra vera;

myelodysplastic syndromes;

carcinoid tumors or carcinoid syndrome; and

monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance.

On October 8, 2002, DOL received a letter from Dr. E, G. Fiegal, the Acting
Director of NCI’s Division of Treatment. and Diagnosis, detailing NCI’s evaluation
Of the above’ mentionéd six medical conditions.

According to Dr. Fiegel, NCI recognizes myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia,
polycythemia vera with leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, polycythemia rubra vera,
and myelodysplastic syndromes as reportable cancers. These hematological conditions
are not reportable as leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, but
have distinct categories (except in the case of polycythemia rubra vera and
polycythemia vera with leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, which share the same
category). One of the functions of bone is to manufacture biood cells in the bone
marrow. Accordingly, myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia, polycythemia rubra vera
and its variant polycythemia vera with leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, and
myelodysplastic syndrome{s) should be considered as bone cancer for purposes of
having a "specified cancer” as a member of the Special Exposure Cohort, since all
are malignancies of the bone marrow.

Carcinoid syndrome and monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance are not
currently recognized as malignant conditions by NCI. Consequently, these conditions

hitp://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/owep/ecoicp/PolicyandProcedures/finalbulletinsht.... 5/1/2005


results can only be explained if the back-scattering
effect was approximately offset by self-absorption
within the source. The agreement might be
regerded as fortuitous. Therefore, the compari-
son was repeated from the beginning, using freshly
prepared sources from the same original solution
of P® in both pieces of apparatus. The measure-
ments gave 0.504 me in the large solid-angle
counter and 0.502 mc in the low solid-angle’

Ait pd

arrangement. This makes it quite certain thet
the low solid-angle chamber gives 2 reliable
measurement of beta rays from P* or any source
emitting only beta rays of approximately th
semeenergy. Furthermore, this counting arrange.
ment is independent of any standard and give
the disintegration rate simply by multiplying the
observed counting rate by the solid angle com.
puted from the dimensions of the apparatus.

IV. Use of the Curie

It has become the practice to express the
strength of ell radioactive sources in terms of
ecuries. Actually, the curie can be applied logi-
cally only to members of the radium family. This
arises from the fact that the curie was originally
defined as “That quantity of radon in equilibrium
with 1 of radium.” Therefore, only members of
the radium family in equilibrium with 1 g of radium
ean have this disintegration rate, A further
disadvantage in the use of this unit is that it is
uncertain to at least 4 percent and values are in
current use which fall well outside these limits.

The solution of this difficulty is remarkably
simple. The intensity of redicactive sources is
measured actually in terms of disintegrations per
second. Therefore, all that is required is to
designate some convenient rete and give it a
name. We suggest that a convenient rate is 10°
disintegrations per second, and that the unit be
called a “rutherford,” abbreviated as “rd.” ‘The

94

microrutherford then is the amount undergoing }
disintegration per second. and 2 kilo rutherford,
10° disintegrations per second. In the future it

is anticipated that even those nucleii having

fairly complex disintegration schemes will be
measurable in terms of disintegrations per second,
and many can already be treated in this way.
Thus all confusion that has arisen from the felse
application of the curie can be eliminated.

: This subject has been discussed by the National
Research Council Committee on Radioactivity,
which, in turn, has suggested that the National
Bureau of Stendards recommend the use of the
“rutherford” as a general unit for the measure
ment of radioactive sources, This recommends-
tion was published in Science 103, 712 (1946), and
will appear shortly in other journals. E

Wasuineton, May 23, 1946.

Journal of Research



: sec Cosmic Rays in Stratosphere 593

Poisson’s law), is N'*, ‘The total number of events or counts involved
is 3,320 15X5==249,000 (since cach of the 15 values in the table
mpresents the average over 6 minutes). ‘Che expected standard de-
Yiation of this valuo would be 498 for the 75-minute period, which
vould give an expected, standard dovintion of 7, in tho average count-
ing tate, por minuto. ‘This expectod value of 7 for a single counter
is 20 much less than the actual standard deviation, 110, of the 15
counters, from their mean that there is little doubt that real differences
exist in the sensitivities of the counters.

Tasrp 1.~-Summary and analysis of observations

Bland: | yyelt Ratlo of | Ratio af | Rattoof| Ratloot
oboe vec count | count | counts

ing rate | ogmce | Book | Prose | ing rate
eb ga0' | of cou" | counts | suro nt | utonaxt
une | faiete | afte fing cote | ‘maxte | “sum.
ty inact | bse pnee | num | attitude
mom | mam | ao }aitiadel tomar

count | couat | Wt {attained | imum

count
ASrle|ngate eum,

3 4 5 ‘ 7 8 * wo]

mb

geo] 210] eo} ass 079
Smo] 330] 60] 07 “91
320) gon] oo} fa 8
3600] <1! as] oe 18
Bo} too] 00) ar a
3101 Leo] ol om | 08
3m) Loo} 60} 49] a)
nme] Leo} oat] ap | tg | or Bt] iz] age
370] new) ao] cop | cor | for} ao] 8] ats
aan] xo) oo] tah | lar | Co? sro] 87
Som] Leo) oo] 42} tty | foe} nt} sao] tae
ago] nmol oat Sar | lag | Soe sso] a0
gow] nro) sol foo | coz | Sot wo) sig} ai
Zoo} nao] eo] ied bar | S20 a] stot See
8000 | 1080] os} 45 | oe | wt a] 5] oe
asm] an0[ se] ses | oer | oon). 0.88
uo] 8s 1] *0.08] oor] ess |... an

‘Only thevo vatucs avaraped
‘Onltng aly 3 (98 veraRe~08; standard dotaton=0.6

Jn column 4 of table 2 is listed, for each sounding, the maximum
dbserved counting rate obtained during the flight; ond columa 6
Gives the average pressure, in millibars, obsorved at tho timo of

taximum counting. Although the prossure could bo rond to the
a + 2 millibars, the prossuro at tho maximum counting rato could
beestimatod to only tho noarest § millibars, ‘Tho average value of
‘he pressure at which the counting rate is a maximum is 58 millibars,
ttich corresponds to an altitude of 69,500 ft ‘The porcontage
tandard devintion of the values of column 4 from their average, 4.7
jerent, is only slightly grentor than for column 2, 3.3 poreent, An
werease of about this amount is not unexpected beontise of the in-
aensed uncertainties of measurement. It was hoped that by taking
“ae tcount of tho differences in sensitivitios of the various counters the
Be dsintions could be reduced. Accordingly, in column 6 aro listed



58 Journat of Research of the National Bureau of Standards

F

Department or Com

In this circuit, the pulse arriving at-fectifier 7; is{negative; there”
fore, to get rectification the plates are tied together and grounded
and the signal is applied to the cathode. Since both d-c voltage
supplies are regulated, variations caused by line-voltage fluctuations
must be due to changes in heater voltage. In the previous circuit,
these wore balanced out by attaching the voltmeter terminals to
symmetrical points with reference to the two halves of the 6H6. ._
Here it was found that st normal heater voltage there exists a potenti) ~ 5 FF
of about 0.8 volt between cat le and plate, which is dependent HEATS O! ‘ORMA’ }
upon the heater voltage* If, however, the cathode is made about aN
1-volt positive with respect to the plate, the line voltage is not likely =. -
to vary enough to cause this parasitic potential ever to rige beyond
this value. erefore, the yoltage across the RC circuit is depend-
ent only on the number of pulses arriving at the rectifier and the
constents chosen for this cirenit. S, is a four-point rotary switch -
which offers sensitivity ranges varying from approximately 3,000 te’ > “_' .

100,000 pulses per minute for maximum deflection of the meter. op waltes Ste Siven for the heat

An added advantage in this circuit is that the resistor Ry between of Sup pustion, of 1,2-buradiene
the rectifier and #C circuit can be as low as 0.1 megohm and stil! “~~
perform quite satisfactorily. In the previous circuit, however, thi:
resistor was kept larger to minimize the effect of this parasitic potentis!,
on the linearity of the RC circuit. The smaller the total resistance
from the eathode of the rectifier to ground, the hi the number of
pulses per unit time to which the tank circuit will respond linearly

, however, Rj. is made too low, the net change delivered to the tan!
circuit per pulse becomes too small to give adequate voltage
reasonable values of # in the RG circuit.

In instruments where portability and size are important factors. 5 oa]
the twin triode is adequate for the bridge-type vacuum-tube vol a a
meter, but a little better performance is obtained if 6K6 tubes are use/:. . i The. previously publishe
instead. The reversal of the polarity of the high voltage is, hower taon of 1,3-butadi
responsible for the greatest change in size and weight. A single powe.’ S¢mbination of values of t
transformer is no longer adequate for the entire voltage supply tane [2], the heat o
because the ordinary commercial power transformer does not havt ‘ation of water from its
sufficient jnsulation between its windings to withstand 1,500 to 1, saben dioxide from its el,
volts, which is necessary in this circuit. Since a separate transform e-heat of formation ¢
is necessary to heat the cathode of T's, one was chosen that woul
give 2.5 volts, so that a 2X2 high-vacuum, high-voltage rectifier.
could be used. The panel of a completed instrument is shown
figure 4. This model as shown weighs slightly less than 20 pounds.

onig: Milman sad 8, Seely, Bleotronios, D. 904, 0d. 5 (MoGraw-HM) Book Co., Ine, New York, X-

Wasutneron, August 7, 1944.

Port of Journal of Research ¢

By Edward J. Pri

are based on old i

9, 20, 21, 22).

in this laboratory
mation from the elem:
NIT OF ENERG

tof energy upon

is the internation:

4 Was performed at th
snc the American Petroleum .
Properties of sere teas


. & Derarmuanr or Conmercr Nattonat Bursau oF Sranparps
RESEARCH PAPER RP1627

part of Journal of Reseorch of the National Bureau of Standords, Volume 34,
January 1945

FREQUENCY METER FOR USE WITH GEIGER-MOLLER
COUNTER

By Leon F. Curtiss and Burrell W. Brown

ABSTRACT

‘An improved circuit is described for reading the rate of pulses from a Geiger-
Mailer counter! Based on the ‘~asual procedure of leveling and rectifying the
Silses to charge a condenser, the improvements concern & idge-type vaenum-
Rive voltmeter to read the voltage on the condenser and an arrangement to com~
peasate parasitic potentials developed in the rectifier for the pulses. An ade-
quate source of ‘potentials from one small transformer is described, which tenders
the circuit usefal in portable instuments. Partiouler care has

| eireuit that is independent of the voltage cf the alternating-current mains
i i ted. A modification of the circuit for rapidly

CONTENTS

1, Introduction... 58
IL Cireuit for gamma-ray exposure meter Ea
By

IIL Adjustment of sensitivity...
TV, Circuit for rapidly decaying sources.

I. INTRODUCTION

Phe use of Geiger-Miller counters cau be extended: considerably if -
the ecce: equipment for their operation cen be made light enough
to be readily portable and at the same time thoroughly relieble.
Many attempts have been made to achieve this result, but in general
the equipment that has been found satisfactory is too heavy, and that
wi been sufficiently light is not reliable, since their compo-
nents are operated beyond their normal capacity. Now that the vapor-
filled Geiger-Milller counters have been shown to be quite’ trust-
worthy when simple recautions are taken in preparing them, the way
is open for the development of accessory circuits, operated directly
from alternating-current mains, which are of moderate weight and in
which all parts are operated within their specified rating. There is
presented here a description of one such circuit that has given very
good performance. Completely assembled in a metal case, the device
weighs slightly less than 15 pounds.

1 LE. Curtiss, NBS J. Research:
#0. Davis and L. F. Curtiss, N

23, 479 (1999) BPI248.
RBS 3° Research 29, 405 (1942) RP1509.



doc Als ~

iWrgsa—
Ceatet=



q er) Cosmic Rays in Stratosphere 589

thtained by observing the counting rates when radium sources of
& dBoront known intonsities were placed at @ fixed distance from the
$ unter. The values of Ny were fixed from the lower counting rates
| ‘here a linear gelation was observed between counting rate and inten~
fty.of the source (after allowing for the blank counting rate). Theory
experiment show the maximum counting rate at the eame yaluo
@ A NJN, but differ in other rospecta, as shown in the figure, These
differences might occur if the resolving time, r, were not constant, ag
mis assumed by Schiff. The value obtained ‘for + from this set of
dts was 9X10~ second. In the observations on cosmic rays the
eunting rates never exceeded 2 value for Nr/T of 0.05, for which
i thes Ny/N was unity, within a few percent.
Soucnal of Research of the Nationa) Bureau of Stacdards 3. BAROGRAPH
The barograph used in this investigation was of the same type as
@ O31 usod in the onrlier work anid has bean dosoribed in detail olse-
@ vtero* The sonsitive element of the barograph was 2 small aneroid
spsule of copper-boryllium alloy, ‘Cho rovolving contact arm of the
graph was driven by a small impulse-type motor which was
wately powered by a 1}-volt pemight battory, Pressures
ald be dotormined to within +2 millibars ovor tho rango of pressures
4 yo toSmilliburs. "Tho possible error duo to temporature variations
tho barograph haa been carefully investigated and found to be less
dan the precision of reading over the ontire rango,

4. RADIO TRANSMITTER

. The radio transmitter was also the same as that used in the earlier
wik, It consisted of two typo 30 tubes in push-pull oscillating at
megacycles and powers by ® 135-volt, plate supply. Keying
‘tts accomplishod by al ort-cirouiting a cathode biasing resistor, “The
tor was sufficiently large so that tho circuit would not oscillate
the resistor wore shorted, Consequently, the tranamitter was
t except for the relatively short times of Ke) ing, an important
Stor in keeping the battery roquirements at a minimum,

5, BATTERIES

e The voltage supply for the counter (36, fig. 2) was obtained from

vady‘ A180 units. “Bach one of these units supplics 45 volts
Rd weighs but 2 ounces, The plate voltage for the éubos of the am-

29 well as for the transmitter, was obtained from Burgoss V40
le. Hach of these units furnishes 45 volts and weighs about 3.6
‘eves. The filaments of all tubes required 2 volts for their opera-
‘64, which was obtained from ordinary fleshlight batteries. It was
most convenient to connect two filaments in sories and heat
with the ourrent from throe flashlight batteries in series,

6, ASSEMBLY
The assembled balloon equipment ig shown in figure 5, The four

Frauue 6.-—Amplifying and intograting assembly.

te we NEP at erg ha ey
Le re ek ee 5 :

of the amplifier and ini ting cirouit, a separate view of which
'iahown in figure 6, are in the center of the Pleture. The plate-supply
#P Rew, W, 28 (1008); J. Nossarch NDB 2%, O7 (1939) RPI,

$4 pry 2p >


1.5: Daraxmaaner OF Conmarncs Narionat Burzau oF
RESEARCH PAPER RP1169

port of Journal of Research of the Natione! Bureau of Standards, Volume 22,
n January 1939

AN IMPROVED RADIO METEOROGRAPH ON THE OLLAND
PRINCIPLE

By L. F. Curtiss, A. V. Astin, L. L. Stockmann, end B. W. Brown

working conditions liable

Herite indications. Since it gives relatively strong signals with a good stability
i Fe gooney, de easy to operate and very tle Tekining 2g ao he
is required. Special attent on has been given to the thermal insulation of the
compartment contal ‘batteries and transmitter so that no failures due to

I. INTRODUCTION

In September 1935 the authors described ' the results of their pre-
liminary investigation into the possibilities of developing & prea!
system for observation of temperature, preesure, and relative umidity
at high altitudes by means 0! Fadio-equipped sounding ‘balloons: AS:
there reported, the redio problems involved are very simple, and by
using the Olland principle, which requires the trensmitter to be in
operation for a very ‘small fraction of the observation period, relatively
strong signals of 5-meters wave length can be obtained at all attain-
able altitudes and for distances of a hundred miles or more.

been tested both in the laboratory and in the air. The chief problems
encountered were those of: (1) ‘Reliable keying contacts; (2) con-
sistent indicating system. for the sensitive elements; (3) adequate
ventilation for the sensitive elements; (4) stable antenna position
during flight; (5) maintenance of battery temperatures; and , (6)
dependable and uniform operation of the driving mechanism.
model here described has shown in repeated tests that these problems
heve been solved to the extent that they no longer interfere with
reliable and accurate operation of the instrument.

TL. P, Cartise and A, V. Astin, J. Aeron. Sel, 3, 36 (1025).



Coc All Pe

II. Geometrical Arrangement

Figure 1 is diagram of the counter, chamber,
and source holder built to test the effectiveness
of this method of measuring beta-ray sources.
A brass tube epproximately 60 em long and 4-0m
internal diameter constitutes the chamber. In
this a number of baffles, B, are mounted with a
movable shutter, Sh, of 3-mm brass af the end
where the source, S, is mounted. This shutter
permits @ measurement of: background with a
source in place. The opposité end of the chamber
is closed by @ steel plate, P, 6 mm thick with an
aperture, A, 4 mm in diameter in the center. A
counter, C, is mounted concentric with A, which
is covered by a mica window of approximately
2mg/em*, The chamber can be evacuated daring
observations, The construction of the source
holder is shown in figure 2. Tt is made of Plexiglas
and designed to reduce back-scatterng from
various parts.

The most important spurious effect to be antici-
pated in this arrangement is small-angle scattering
from the’walls of the tube. The very small solid
angle used makes this a serious difficulty. Con-
sequently, a series of studies was made of the

. effect of baffles of various materials, at different

locations in the tube, on the counting rate, These
studies revealed that Plexigles and soft-wax
baffles were equally effective in producing a
definite minimum counting rate when the source
was in full view of the aperture.

Typical results are shown in table 1 for equally
spaced baffles, consisting of disks % in. thick

Ficune 1,—Arrengement of counter, vacuum chamber, and
source holder.

Source
lL

closely fitting the internal diameter of t
with a central hole 4 in. in diameter
diameter of the source wes 1 om.

The optimum diameter of the circular
in the baffles was found to be slightly
than the diameter of the source. Small
at this approximste diameter hed no.effec
counting Tate.

“2 papa 1—elatie sity sg for different arrar.

The effect of internal scattering along t
was further tested by changing the so
aperture distance from 60 to 40 em by m
the source on a rod extending 20 cm into tl
‘The counting rate observed under these co:
agreed within less than I-percent wit
calculated from the ratio of the calculat:

~ angles and the counting rate observed at

From the’ ectual dimensions of the #
diameter =4.06 +0.01 mm, and so
aperture distance equals 60.0. £0.2 cm, t
angle divided by 47 is computed as 2.86
Multiplying the observed counting rate
reciprocal of this number, 3.49105, gi

_.pumber. of disintegrations per. second. .

desired to express this value in millicur
observed count is multiplied by 9.44
assuming the curie as 3.7X10 disintes
per second. This practice of express
activities in terms of curies is to be conde
will be explained later.

There sre at least three disturbing
common to all Geiger-counter measurem
beta rays, which must be considered in con
with the present arrangement. These ar
scattering from the source and support, abs
in the mica window and in some casi
absorption in the source. In the present c
back-seattering from the support for the
was reduced to a minimum by the selec

2 + Journal of Re



vin- Walled Aluminum Beta-Ray Tube Oounters 149

IV. CONSTRUCTION OF THE GEIGER-MULLER COUNTER

‘Tho assembly of the counter is shown in cross soction in figure 1.
The circular end of the tooth-paste tube, 7, is closed by the coppor’
F- bushing, B, which is soft soldered to the platod aluminum. tubo, ‘as

indicated. The Bashing is fitted with a ¥-inch Kovar tubo, X, silvor-
soldered in an axial holo, as shown, A short glass tube sealed to K
provides support for one end of the contral wire, W, and also carries
4 side tube for evacuating, filing, and sealing the counter. The glass
ES, tube is continued inside of X to form a. sleeve around tho central wire,
‘The opposite end of the aluminum tube is closed by a copper plug, P,
aoldered into the small tubular opening of the tubo, The plug is
drilled to take a small piece of Kovar wire, which carrics a glass bead,
* @, to serve as & guppart for the central wire at this end. “Tho plug
and wire are soft soldered in one operation to the aluminum tubs,

previously copperpleted at this point.
The oh a assembly found convenient js first to silver solder tubo
into copper bushi . "The glass tubing is then sealed into K and

‘the bushing, B, soft soldered into tube, 7. ‘The central wire system is
den made up and lowered into 7’ to protrude through the screw-cap
‘end, Copper lug, P, is soft soldered to the short Kovar wire and then
f into 7. The Kovar wire, 2, is then pulled into position at the opposite

Som
Fraune 1.~Crosa section of assembly of counter.

‘end and sealed into tho glass, The dimensions aro such that there is a
moderate tension on the spring, S. If the dimensions aro carefully
josen this spring may be alimivated,
;,. The performance of the finished gountor opends, of course, on the
: typo of filling used. In the counter describod here, the usual alcohol-
4% wgon mixturo has been found to yield platoaus and thresholds similar
fr to other types of Geiger-Miiller qounters containing this mixture.
st Aslopo of 0.1 percent per volt is readily obtained. A curve showing
3 the variation of counting rate with voltage applicd to the counter is
; town in figuro2, This curve is maintained for several months, which
“% & as long as the counters were under obsorvation. Experience indi-
es that a counter will leak occasionally os 9 rosult of imperfect
soldering. This oan be quickly repaired, In a fow cases it was also
found that the aluminum tooth-pasto tubes have a, small loak probably
¢, dusto pin holes. Perhaps 5 poreent of the tubes may have this defect,
if which oan be deteoted by preli TY evacuation. .

ed a1 2320p



ee ee we ee ene ee nnn pes e+ ao - ---

doc Al\\p3

carcinoid tumor in the small intestine.

Disposition: Retain until incorporated in the Federal (EEOICPA) Procedure Manual
PETER M. TURCIC

Director, Division of Energy Employees

Occupational Illness Compensation

Distribution List No. 1: Claims Examiners, Supervisory Claims Examiners, Technical
Assistants, Customer Service Representatives, Fiscal Officers, FAB District
Managers, Operation Chiefs, Hearing Representatives, District Office Mail & File
Sections

http: sjtaww.dol.govlesalregs/compliance/owep/ecoicp/PolicyandProcedures/finalbulletinsht... $/1/2005


doc All p?-

should not be considered as cancers.

Carcinoid tumors, except of the appendix, are recognized as malignant conditions by
NCI and should be considered to be primary cancers of the organs in which they are
located. If the organ is one on the specified cancer list, the carcinoid tumor may
be considered as a specified cancer. Carcinoid tumors are found in greatest amounts
in the small intestine and then in decreasing frequency in the appendix, rectum,
lung, pancreas and very rarely in the ovaries, testes, liver, bile ducts and other
locations.

Reference: Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000,
As Amended, 42 U.S.C. § 7384 et seg., Section 73841(17); interim final rule 20 CFR
Part 30, Section 30.5 (dd}; and a letter from Dr. E. G. Fiegai, NCI, to R. Leiton,
DOL, dated October 8, 2002.

Purpose: To notify District Offices of the classification of six additional medical
conditions as primary cancers for eligible SEC claimants under the EEOICPA.

Applicability: All staff.

Actions:

The CE should consider: (1) myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia; (2) polycythemia
rubra vera; (3) polycythemia vera with leukocytosis and thrombocytosis; and (4)
myelodysplastic syndrome{s) to be bone cancer, which is a specified primary cancer
per EBEOICPA Section 73841(17) (B).

2. Carcinoid tumors, except of the appendix, are recognized as malignant conditions
by NCI. If the organ is one on the specified cancer list, the CE should consider
the carcinoid tumor as a specified cancer (per EEOICPA Section 73841(17)).

3, Carcinoid syndrome and monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance are
not currently recognized as malignant conditions by NCI. Consequently, these
conditions should not be considered cancers by the CE. If no other medical
conditions are claimed that qualify the employee as having a covered -condition; the ~
claim should be denied. come

The CE must look for any other cases of the medical conditions discussed above that
could make the claimant eligible for benefits, either as a member of the SEC or
through dose reconstruction. A preliminary review of the ECMS is underway to
determine which cases may have already been denied or sent to NIOSH. That list will
be forwarded to each District Office under separate cover. Using that list, the
District Office must pull any cases for review in accordance with this bulletin. If
modification orders are required, the District Office should send the case to the
National Office.

The CE must continue to distinguish these medical conditions from bone or other
specified cancers, as appropriate, using the appropriate ICD-9 codes on all
paperwork and in ECMS.

For the conditions to be considered as bone cancers, the ICD-¥ code for a myeloid
metaplasia is 289.8, polycythemia rubra vera and its variant polycythemia vera with
leukocytosis and thrombocytosis is 238.4, and myelodysplastic syndrome is 238.7.
The ICD-9 code for malignant neoplasm of the bone is 170.

Carcinoid tumors, except of the appendix, should be recorded by the organ of the
specified cancer. For example, the CE should use the ICD-9 code of 170 for a


}

800 JWWal of Research of the National Bureau of Stondards wae § Re] Cosmis Raye in, Stratosphere 59

patteries for these tubes, as well a for the transmitter, aro just behind q jweiver con handlo and expleins why it was essontinl to use on

thom. In front of the amplifier ara the neon tube and relay (Z, fig. 2) # “a ating cireult on the balloon equipment for high-speed counters,

for keying the tranamitter, The second counter has beon remove ee od of oan tho recorder is shown in figure 7. The

but is normally installed just in front of the amplifier. Below ¢ ‘uplitier” ond pe letector tubo anters of the terminals marked

amplifior may ‘be seen the high voltage supply for the counters, To iplifier” and passes to tho relay. A signal in the recciver
De

i n the 5 4 increases the current through the meter, 7, and actuates the rela;
tho right of tho omplifir is tho barograph unit, and to the left is the which in turn controls the grid potential of tho gne-filled 885: ttiods’

‘The plate current of tho 885 tube passes through an electro
vhich controls a recording stylus, i maagnet
, The complete ground equipment is shown in figure 8. Tho receiver
to tho right; the plate-curront motor of tho detector circuit, the 886
q tebe, and the power supply are in the conter; and the waxed-tape
‘cord and recording stylus to the left, Perforated tape, moved by a
# Pocket which is driven by a synchronous motor, is uaed to secure
$ wilorm motion of the tape,

radio transmitter, ‘The antenna and attachment cord to the balloons
aro shown in the per part of the picture, .

‘The crate in which the equipment ig mounted consists of a balst»
wood framo with double Collophane lining for heat insulation. The
front and back sides of the orate are removed in figure 5. ‘The interior
Cellophane surface is lined with black paper, which sorves both asi6
hont, absorbing surface and as a light shield for tho counters. Tests
on tho interior temporatures of such enclosures when in the strato
8 here in daytime have shown the temperature to be within 15°C
o .

It was found that moisture enclosed within the frame when the
orate was scald froquontly condensed on parts of tho insulation
interfered with the proper oporation of the equipment. This trou!
was climinated by coating the insulating surfaces well with Supers
wax and onclosing some calcium chloride in a cheesecloth bag within
the crate whon it was sealed. ;

‘The woight of the completely assembled balloon oquipment ready
for attaching to the balloons was approximately 2,200 g.

>=

7, BALLOONS :
The counter equipment ond radio transmitter wore carried aloft 4

TO

by five or six Dewey and Almy latex balloons, model No. 700. These RECORDER 9 TO 6
balloons havo an uninflated Guamater of about ft and will expand 6 @ —— . AMPLIFIER
approximately 19 ft bofore bursting. The balloons wero Be houms 7-—Wiring diagram of detector circuit used with auperregenerative recetver to
with hydrogen to have a free lift of opproximataly 600 g por balloos. * actuate records,
‘This gave on. ascension rate in excess of that normally used in strates Veta chin valtag divider
aphere soundings, but it has beon the authors’ experience that higher ro ae
altitudes aro obtained with higher asconsional rates. j Fares meschan

Tho balloons were attached to strings of different lengths to reduce Bystod,o00 olinss

contact of the balloons with each other, This was found desirable fa
proventing both premature and simultancous bursting of the belloons.

III. GROUND EQUIPMENT

The recoiver used in this worl’ was a commercial 5-motor supé
rogenerative typo. A detector tubs of the grid current type was a
to the recoiver. In its unoxcited condition the regenerative noise ef {4
the rocoiver, suppressed tho plate current of the detector tube, «&
signol entering tho recelvor suppressed the regenorative noise
eausod an incrongo in tho current of the detector tube. Tho
was vory inscnsilive to noisa, ainco only a dofinite pulse of waves of
frequency to which the receivor was tuned would euppross the
atiye noise and thus release the output current, inary static wae % 4

uit inoffectivo, since it mainly added to the regenerative nolge. iaiy of the spacing between the cosmic-ray signals fg an indication

he disndvontege of tho circuit wos that o signal of at least abows @ athe oxtent to which the random fluctuations in the individual dis-
one-tonth second duration was necessary to actuate the re -darges of the counter are smoothed out by tho integrating cirouit,
‘This, of course, limite the number of signals per second which ihe

A sample record is shown in figure 9, The upward broake in the
bnizontal line on the tape correspond to signals received from the
adio transmitter. The double breaks marked “reference doublet”
‘ emrespond to regular keyings of the transmitter by the motor-driven
4 watact arm. These reference marks are received approximately four

Sues per minute. The break marked “prossure”’ corresponds to

of tho contact arm by a contact point connected to the aneroid

le. Tho ratio of tho distance between a reference doublet and
prove signal to tho distance botween two reference doublets givos
messuro of the pressure, The narrow breaks in tho horizontal line

% tuked “cosmic rays” correspond to keyings of the transmitter by
Me integrating cirouit. These are veadily discernible from
Se barograph signals by both their width and position, The regu-



> Case Status Report (March 15, 2005)

Individual Claim Status(continued)

Claim Received from DOL:
Acknowledgement Letter Sent to Claimant:

Telephone Interview Conducted with Claimant:
Report from Interview Sent to Claimant:

Conflict of Interest Letter Sent to Claimant:
Dose Reconstruction Started:

Draft Dose Reconstruction Sent to Claimant:
Close Out Interview Conducted with Claimant:
OCAS-1 Returned to NIOSH:

Final Dose Reconstruction Sent to DOL:

12/19/2002

12/08/2004
12/09/2004

Not Completed
Not Completed

Not Completed
Not Completed
Not Completed
Not Completed

NIOSH Tracking Number:

Page 2 of 2

Aoc A tz pz


5

6 Journal of Researoh of the National Bureas of Standords i

201
(50F
2
£100,
&
&
3 :
g Journal of Resear ofthe Notional Borenu of Standards Reaenrch Paper 1827
2 sor
1 L ‘ 1
0 0.06 O10 0.8 0.26
Roentgan per 8 hours
Froune 2.—Calibration curve for the gamma-ray exposure meter.
tre Al ne fu weg re
om n m ‘
Counter

Hrauny 4--Vrew of panel of counting-rate meter for use with Gerger-Suller counter

+1400

Froune 8—Wiring diagram for circuit for rapidly decaying sources.

MN, Tyo AiG; Ty Jorg Ts0X8, Tr, TeV RON, Ty 574; Tym 2X2; Cire.02 pl
ig et em a Fut Gad al Go a Cheba Chala, i yell
ey ant oi aah ate Se errant i Be
ohu fi; Ryo? mogohius; Rem 1 Ram iy Bef
pee st she Maries Nas Fei ohn, Read Tuan R= 000 eb, 10,00 Ob



tere ee ee seme &

Ps
» The v
coun to the fourth flcor have

Quantitoted or decontaminated.
powaarently seated,

a ; defo”

Va Fecemnend, theravore, that these ducts be

3. Roof aver near tha Skyi3eht over Roan’ 507

ike 7

found radjen dia? wrist vst:
“volved

izpossibie prodien to evaieate,

equipzent be dissosed oF, Also,

4. Bone 504 *

Ww

the equipment end shelves

& few isolated araasy the Tev2%5.

on Atzochment 3,

: Thora 13 contexins

tod Gravel on the roo? arsuad tha sky} ight,

dadividual pioces oF §rave) probably hays consicorebly tess than rould Se
ch, "
the Jorge equipzcnt and tresh en the

however cue to ths tyne oF material dn-
rveo?, Wjsa virtesliy

Ua roromend, therefore, that the Jarge
Frosh ta> end gt Teast an inch of frash

gravel sheuld be poured on tha ceo? covering the area fron the skylight out”
to the edge of the reo? on al} Sites,
Cistonce oF 1) foet from the SkyTight,

but G2 is not necessary to exc2ed 2

5 oo4

Thts rsem had sheives-and old pieces OF Squiprent loft in the
area by HSS. Pacause of the NFLseAce OF Yow FevhIs oF contemination covering
?c> areas of the Soar, ws wontd 3

ke to evdiurce this are? further after

hava been removed. ct

In consiusten, although there docs fondta sv31? amunts oF activity tn

bye within sate Jinits. Ye have used ex.

Guicelines the recomendations of the U.S. Padtic Health Soryicg as indicated
Also enciesed Ys a copy of an erticie by HF. ein and

GD. Scamidt which provides informatten 09 contenination Timtts used by

other agonties,
mes used In cur evalustion yers

fa Tost, therefore, that no pediatioa: haze
Furthsimore, subject to the recommendations wl
azords from this contexination _

evaluated, (See Hist belew.)
discussed. above, we televe that
337 recur tn the Future, :

- Butidines =
Building $2
» #3

" oS
* #7
bid Peas)
° 245
° $129
. £2100
trad

The guidelines a? the tS, Public Hsaith Service, and the

Tower than those used by Fast other agencies,

am exist in eny af the bulidings

RO radiation

elation or hood duets Tecated In this roca and extending
tezals of rediosctivity which cannot be enstty,



Jovraal of Revearch of the National Bureas of Stanlards Research Paper 1169,

Tavern 3

Sample af uctual taps recor from iolemeter, showing one Olland cycle

Fiona 4.— Assembled radio meteoragraph ready for rolease,

SAD...] Improved Olland Radio Meteorograph 99

released almost exclusively when the sun is above the horizon, How-
ever, the majority of radio-meteoro; nphie observations are made by
the Wonther Bureau at night, and therefore the corrugated-paper
incloaure was adopted to reduce heat loss as much as possible, In
this way satisfactory results have been obtained without the use of
auxiliary means of heating the interior.

With such an arrangement it becomes necessary to design the
telemeter 20 that the sensitive elements oon be outside the al
inclosure and the motor and contacts inside. Our mothod for ac-
complishing this can be explained by reference to figures 1 ond 2,
which ere two views of the telemetor, The olectric motor, of which
Bis the rotor, is mounted in a light eluminum framo used to support
also the pressure, temperature, and humidity ¢lementa, P, T, and H.
The contact system, C, shown in moro dotail in figure 2, is mounted
directly on the output spindle of the motor, which turns at » speod
of 4 revolutions per minute, giving four complete sets of measurements
per minute. The contact system consists of a Bakelite disk, D,
Hail attached to the output spindle and turing with it, Imbedded
radially in this disk is the platinum wire, W, whioh is in electrical
contact at one ond with the motor spindle, ‘the exposed side of this
vite, which is bent around and similarly imbedded. in the lower surface
of the disk, D, ia polished down evon with tho surface of the disk.
‘This sperms électrical contact with the indicating arms without
disturbing their angular position. These indicating arms, as shown
at A, figure 2, aro fastened to brass sleeves, B, threaded on the outside
and provided with Bakelite bushings inside. Hach of these arme is
Upped with @ double prong of fine platinum-iridium wire. Tho .

elite bushings, lubricated with ary graphite fit smoothly on the
output spindle of the motor. Tho throaded brass sleeves are con-
nected with their respective indicating eloments by the fine Nichrome
wires, N, each one of which passes from the free end of a sensitive
element around a separate threaded sleeve, B, and is attached to a
tension apring, S, anchored through an insulator to the right-hand
eide of the frame in figure 1. In this way linoar displacements of the
sensitive elements are transformed into angular displacements of the
indicating arms of the contact system so that backlash is reduced
and tho number of moving parts is kept at a minimum. Since the
spindle on which the indicating arms aro ivoted is in constant rote-
tion, and os there is somo vibration in addition from the motor, no
dificnlty hea been encountered in securing a reliably responsive
action from the contact arms. -

Since the electric motor has considerable powor, the limit to the
pressure of the tips of the indicating arms on the Bakelite disk is de-
termined by the indicating systems. ‘This pressure must not be so
grent as to cause dragging of the contact arms. By use of the plati-
num-iridium tips mentioned above, it has been found oasy to obtain
toliable electric contacts with moderate pressures, ‘T'o insure the
atebility of the indicating systems relatively powerful elements have
‘eon used. The bimetallic spiral, , (Gg. 1) and the pressure din~
phragm, P, have been designed to give strong positive action under all
conditions. For the humidity element, H, goldbeaters skin has been
used, which can be readily cut to a size of sufficient atrength and has
been found to be several times as responsive as humen hair, [ts re-
sponse to changing conditions of humidity has also been found to be



98 oe of Research of the National Bureau of Standards » was
IL, RADIO TELEMETER 1

The preliminary experimenta were made with clock-driven equip.
ment, ‘Theso trials served a vory useful purpose in testing the range
ond stability of the radio signals, but it soon became evident tl
escapemont errors introduced by the clock movement seriously limited
the accuracy. Furthermore, even slight decreases in température
frequently caused the clockwork to stop, especially if the pressure on,
the contact arms carried by the motor was sufficiont always to give’
dependable signals. Teste were therefore made of small dired
current motors,’ which convinced us that they would provide @ mo
satisfactory driving mechanism. Slow changes in speed could
corrected for automatically? in reading the record. Thro

operate without lubricants and have about
spring-driven clook of the samo weight, .
. Zo protect tho batteries and transmitter from excessive reductions
in Yomporabuto, a thermally insulated inclosuro is required. | Like.
wise, the motor and electrical contacts for keying the transmitter
should ba protected from icing and other unfavorable conditions. We
have found that 0 box with cellular walls made up of several layers
of corrugated paper is best for this purpose. This inclosure is built
up of soveral layors of corrugated poper glued-togethor. ‘The thermal
insulation secured in this way is far superior to that provided by, balea- 4
wood containers. This is shown by the following values which g

the intorior temperatures at approximately 5-minute intervals after
surrounding the outside of the thermal inclosure with dry ice, 78°C. He
An inclosuro with X-inch balsa-wood walls will drop to dry-ice tempers-, 35
ture in about 12 minutes under the same conditions. 3

‘ews Te
w | §

ig | 4

E

a8 a

1 =

a] a

2:00 8

It should bo pointed out that Cellophane inclosures of the type
dosoribed previously * aro in overy way superior for maintaining the
temperature of the battery inclosure at a high level in comparison
with the external temporatures at tho higher altitudes when the sun
is above tho horizon. For this reason Cellophane inclosures ore still
used by the authors * for cosmic-ray balloon equipment, which ia

7 nd A.V, . i q

Ai aa ae fai fo BMG: RN ant Iai of the U. 8, Weather Buse for aunts

var
ate
TER SSMS dr eee as,

pol seston dso

Research Peper 1169



NLU , JVOSAUG Ive e@ “iS 4

physics.nyu.edu

vf De exon [Ih smcle
pt, Rosalind Mendell -

Retired

Senior Research Scientist, Retired

Experimental cosmic ray physics

1 Office
| Malling Address
| | _ Q
j Mall Box ie)
¥ | 041 fay
Hosalind Mendel! J Email
ee cetacean de cee ae eee >
Nv
i

Revised, Fri Apr 22 16:43 28 2006
webmaster@physics.nyu.edu
© 1999-2004 Physics Department, New York University All nghts reserved



- 6c. AN

nt of Commerce F3h
National Bureau of Standards “ Volume 37, August 1946
C ] _ Part of Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards

An Arrangement with Small Solid Angle for
Measurement of Beta Rays

By Leon F, Curtiss and Burrell W. Brown

An arrangement using » Geiger-Miller counter witn small aperture with a radioactive
source at some distance from it is described for counting beta particles. Sources emitting
only beta rays with maximum energies above 1 million electron volts of the order of 1 milli-
curie can be measured in terms of the disintegration rate from the observed counting rate
and the solid angle as calculated from the dimensions of tne apparatus. An independent
check of the arrangement shows that this can be done reliably. A suggestion for discarding
the use of the curle and substituting « unit consisting of 10° disintegrations per second to

be called the “rutherfe
the radium family.

ig made. The eurie fs properly applicable only to members of

I. Introduction

The development of improved methods for the
production of radioisotopes, resulting in an increase
in the use of such radioactive materials, has led to
& demand for better methods of measurement.
In the simple case where a radioelement emits only
beta particles of fairly high energy, as in the case
of P*, it should be comparatively easy to measure

“the streiigtli of radicactive séureés in teria’ of dis-
integrations per second, even for fairly strong
Sources. ‘This has not yet been accomplished,
however, Disagreements of the order of 300 per-
cent have come to the attention of the authors.
The need for reliable methods of measuring the
Strength of sources of P* is accentuated by its
Rewly developed use in the treatment of leukemia.
It is of considerable importance that the amounts
of ? as measured by various laboratories should

© in reasonable agreement. Otherwise, clinical
Tesults obtained in various parts of the country

@= for Beta Rays

from the use of this element cannot be compared.

The writers have undertaken to develop an
errengement, comprising a Geiger-Miller counter
and source holder, with e sufficiently low solid
angle that sources of the order of 1 millicurie can
be counted in it directly. The number of disin-
tegrations per second will then be obtained from

the observed counting ‘rate and thé solid angle ©

determined from the dimensions of the arrange-
ment. ;
N

II, Geometrical arrengement..
IiI, Independent check on solid angle.



aaFete

Gountin
g

L L
B00 TO00
Volts
Freune 2.—Variation of counting rate with voltage applied to counter.
Jeted counter, ready for filling, and an empty tube sre
chown “ 2 3. faminuin, tubes of other diameters but of

roxims! the same wall thickness and that do not collapse on
erecuation are also available commercially.

Wasnrncron, May 4, 1945.

This report desoribes & si
ior-corviimear Enterpolation
‘Bot tabulated fox we suse!

~ tor 27

n, Gauss, Stirli
m, are all equiv.
nomial of suita}

23 except that of I
f a “table of diff
¢ se of the pol:

id, is carried out
a the interpolatic
coefficien



semen

” DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service i

Safety and Heath
Robert A. Taft Laboratories
4876 Columbia Parkway, MS C45.
Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998

National Institute for Occupational ne

Phone: §13-533-8423
Fax: 513-533-6840
Case Status Report March 15, 2005
Individual Claim Status
Energy Employee:
NIOSH Tracking Number:
Cancers Verified by Department of Labor (DOL):
Cancer Diagnosis.
Description Date
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Employment and Exposure Information:
Employer(s) Employer Accepts Date Request for Date Exposure
Verified by DOL Request for Exposure | Exposure Monitoring | Monitoring Response
Monitoring Information] Information Sent Received
National Bureau of Standards, Van Ness Street, No Not Applicable Not Applicable

-Continued on Next Page


504 y of Research of the National Burean of Stondards wan |

tho ratios of the maximum counting rates of colunmn 4 to the stander} ;4
counting rates of column 3. Theso ratios, with one exception, are
noticeably more self-consistent than the maximum counting rates:
Omitting the data of July 22, the percentage standard deviation of
the ratios from their moan is loss than 2 percent; including it the dee
viation is 4 porcent, This one ratio is sufficiently ont of line with thé
other 14 values to justify one of two conclusions, (1) something we
wrong with the equipment, or (2) the cosmic-ray intensity at 60
millibars was abnormally high on duly 22, 1938. There was nd 3
obvious inadequacy in the performance of the equipment, as ig
evident by referring back to figure 10, which is the record of the
flight for this date, On the other hand, an examination of records
from other Jnboratories has shown no departures from normal 04
this date of oither the cosmio-ra: intonsity at sea level, or magnotié
or solar phenomena. Accordingly, there is no reason to chooso one
conclusion over the othor, . . }
In column 7 are shown the ratios of the maximum counting rates
to tho counting at 200 millibars, ‘Tho consistency of the data of this
column morely indicates that the curves for all flights, such as shown i
firure 8, had the same general shape. Tho agreement would prob»
ably be still botter wore it not for the facts (1), that counting rate was
changing rapidly with time, and (2), that the counting time was
extremely stort, The data for 600 millibars, which are shown ia
column 8, aro vory erratic for not only aro the counting rates varying
and the counting period short, but the counting rate is low
appreciably influenced by the blank counting rate. :
‘he blank counting rate represents the spontancous dischargo rate
of the counter in the absenco of radiation. It was determined by
observing the counting rato in an iron shield of sufficient thickness
to absorb gamma radiation and then subtracting from this valuo
number of counts axpeoted from cosmic rays, MKolhérster a
Janossy * have estimated the cosmic-ray intensity at soa level as 0.8
article per cm? per minute, which value gives 19 sounts per minus
for our comaters.' ‘This sounting rate was then subtracted from the
counting rates observed in the iron shield, and the romaindor corre
sponds to tho blank counting rates listed in column 9 of the table 1.
‘The minimum pressure attained in each flight is listed in column
10, and the ratio of counting rate at this pressure to the maximum
counting rate is given in column 11, ‘The minimum prossures recorded
in nino of these flights diffor by no more than the precision of read
80 the counting rates at minimum pressure have been averaged ft
these fights. This gives a counting rate at 10 millibars equal to
0.82 percent of the marimutn counting rate, The very low co
rato obtained in one high-altitude fig t in our earlior work has
Deen repeated, so it is probable that the earlier data were erratic.
Tnosmuch as the barometric capsules showed uncertainties as large
ag +2 millibars during calibration, the error at 10 millibars may. .
as large as +20 peroant. The altitude corresponding to 10 mille
bars is approximately 101,000 ft, and the uncertainty in reading the. 38
barograph means that tho actual altitude attained may differ icons ‘
this figure by spproximately 45,000 ft.
An estimate of the ratio of the maximum cosmic-ray intensity J
sep-lovel intensity orn bo obtained by making uso of the dad 2

2, Phyatk 04, 510 (1008),

a
a

‘arimum counting rate equivalent to

Peeteg Cosmic Rays in Stratosphere 595

Kolhorster and Janossy referred to above. These data gave a sen
kevel counting rate of 19 for our counters, which is one ninoty-fifth of
the average value of the maximum counting rate, 1,810 per minute.
This ratio is not directly comparable to similar ratios obtained by
% ‘ouization chambers because o!
At sea level, where the cosmic rays are predominantly vertical, tho
efiective ares of the counters is essentially the produot of the length
and diameter. At high altitudes, however, observations such as
those made in the stratosphere balla
vattical and horizontal components to be nearly equal. With such a
directional distribution the average effective aren of tho counters
4 wed in our work has been found by integration to be vory nearly
0 percent of the offective area to vertical radiation, ‘This means
that the ratio of our maximum count to ground count—thaet is, @6—
thould be approximately ono-half the same ratio obtained by ioniza-
tion-chamber measuromonts,

the directional effect of tho counters.

loon Lzplorer IT have shown the

In the standardization of the counters with gamma radiation the

nidium was placed in tho plane of the axis of the counters and at right
5 mnges to their axis, so that tho effective area oxposed to the gamma

iation was approximately one-half the effective area for vortical

; niiation or very nearly the sume as tho offective area to nondirec-
tonal radiation. Because of this it is bolioved that a reliable oati-
mate of the maximum cosmic-ray intensity has boen obtained by use

the stondardized counters. This eyes, as previously shown, a
" .54 mg of radium at a distance
m,

Wasmnaton, August 8, 1939.

WY, F, @, Swann, O. 1, Locher, aud W. E. Daatorth, Phys, Rev. $1, 969 (1987).

184878—-0-—4

q
1
|







te National Bureau of Standards

EFERENCES

|. Research NBS 27, 289 (1941) RPU: - “ .
Jtseret NEB Be Gee BPI U.S. Derarraant OF Cosonnce Narionat Burzav or Sraxparns
: ’ RESEARCH PAPER RPIG66
pare of Journal of Research of the Notional Bureau of Standards, Volume 35,
August 1945

ing, J. Wash, Acad, Sci. 29, 416 (1939)
Willi 1d F. D. RB

», S. B. ay an - :
‘ds, API Research Project @. Unpub THIN-WALLED ALUMINUM BETA-RAY TUBE COUNTERS
endasdn AT Research Prciest 8.4 By Burrell W. Brown and L. F, Contiss
oh 10, 525 (1983) RP546. , ~ ——
nd F. D, Rossini, National Boresy of $ ABSTRACT

*s

Copperplating the alumin -
Te, Conbistetion of the Geiger Mili oo
1. INTRODUCTION

An economical method of making thin-walled aluminum Geiger-
_ Miller. counter tubes for the measurement of beta. rays woul atly

increase the usefulness of this type of instrument in the field of radio-
activity. Present methods require, the boring of metal tubes or rods?
toa thin wall. This is a delicate and expensive operation, and the
thinnest walls obtainable are approximately 0.007 inch. Thin-walled
counters have also been made by drawing glass tubing to a thin-walled
section and silvering theinside? This procedure does not give a very
uniform wall, which is usually of a thickness greater than thet corre-
sponding to 0.007-inch aluminum. Other methods require the use of
Wax , Which do not yield tubes of very long life as the organic
vapors commonly used in filling counters atiack most waxes.

II, THIN-WALLED ALUMINUM TUBES

it has recently been noted that thin-walled aluminum tubes quite

suitable for the construction of counters are commercially available.

A typical tube is % inch in diameter and 4% inches long, with walls

0.0044-+ 0.0004 inch in thickness, The walls are uniform throughout

43) 8- Dumning and 8. M. Skinner, Rev. Gel Instr. 6, 265 (965); J. Hslbern and O. ©. Simpson, 8, 172

* AH, Barnes, Rey, Sci. Instr. 7, 107 (1906); O. Wang, J. ¥. Marvin, and K. W. Stenstrom 22, 81 (1042).
a 147



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INBOX: Emall 25 of 513 | phavious email | | next email
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Tor:

Subject: Re: hello|
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 07:11:01 +0000

Hi _ (didn't get to read ny email until this unseemly hour of the moming, but | shall try to
check on it tomorrow. | assume that the email from tefers to the levels of radiation in a
report in one of the packets that you sent. And | do recall that when | read about the radiation in
Building 2, the fevels that were reported Just about scared me to death. | am amazed that | am still
here at 84 years of age after all that exposure and after the subsequent exposure that I got working
with neutron sources. in any case, just reproducing that report in your SEG petition seems quite
adequate to me. As t recall, the building was abandonned and was {ater tom down to make
another structure, but we can check on that.

00d luck,

INBOX: Email 25 of 513 {previous email { | naxtamail

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oly 20p


+586 - So) of Research ofthe National Bureau of Standards nue
In the present investigation the size of the counters has been

inoreased to give approximotaly a thirtyfold gain in counting rate.
‘This inoronso was sufliciont to make the ourves of counting rate versus
pressure comparable in emoothness to those obtained from observe>
ions with ionization chambers. ‘The great advantage of the counter
method over tho ionization chambor for cosmic-ray exploration of the
upper atmosphere is thet the balloons de not have to be recovered in
order to obtain the data, . .
A furthor improvement in tho present investigation over earlier
work has been the standardization of each counter in terms of gamma
radiation from radium,

It, DESCRIPTION OF BALLOON EQUIPMENT
1, COUNTERS

,_ The general construction of the Geiger-Milller counter tubes used
in this investigation may be seen in figure 1, which shows a typical
tube, Tho outer clectrode, or cathode, is » copper tube about Jom in
diameter and 16 cm in Jongth. Tho anode is o No, 42 steel wire with

Jags sleeves at the ends to serve as guards, after the manner described
by Coayns and de Bruyn? .

To securo a brond and lovol plateau, it has been found necessary to
clean tho electrodes by sputtering. The treatment employed is 4
modification of the method doscribed by Diffenbach, Lifshutz, and

lawslty :

‘Tho oloctrodos are connected to 4 transformer adjusted to produce
a atondy glow betwoon the electrodes in an atmosphere of hydrogen’
Ot 9 pressure oquivalont to 2 few millimeters of lig. ‘The hydrogen
js changod froquently and the sputtoring perinitted to continue for
from 12 to 24 hours. " Care must be taken during the sputtering to pro-
vent a deposition of metal on tho glass surface so that the insulation
may not be ruined. . :

tar sputtering, the counters are filled and sealed with a mixture of
about 10 parts of argon to 1 part of hydrogen at « pressure of approxi
matoly 6 om of Hg. The counters so treated and filled require about
576 volts for their operation and have an approximately constant
counting Tate for any voltage, either higher or lower, within 50 volts
of this value,

2, INTEGRATING CIRCUIT

‘The wiring diagram of the amplifier and integrating circuit associ-
ated with the counterisshowninfigure2, ‘The pulses from the coun
tor aro fed to a high-spood stage of the Neher-Harpor * type. "
,,, he major purpose of this stage is to restore rapidly the counter to,
its normal state. The second stage serves to level the pulsos, since
those coming from the first stage may heve widely differont magni-
tudos. The tubo is arranged for e sharp cut-off, so that all input
Flees, regerdlogs of their magnitude, give the samo output signal.

the third stago roctifies the pulses and tho reotified current charges
the capacitor, 04. When the charge on Of is aufficient to flash the;

neon tubo, N, a signal is transmitted through the final stage, actuating

? Acad, roy, Dolg., Dul, clagee aol. 29, 271 (1084),
4Phyn, Rev, 8, 1231 (1037),
eR ele aen

E_ Farzal Research of the National Bureau of Standards

Research Paper 1254

Moone 1.—Geiger- Muller tube counter used with radio-balloon equipment,



588 @. of Research of the National Bureau of Standards

strengths of radium sources. The third tost involved a fixed quantity
of radium at differont distances from the counter. The ratios of the
differences in counting rates coincided with the expected differences
from inverso-squaro law calculations.

Wee

12|
10}
teresting saver, ft
i) ‘98 voLTs:
i
a
4
q
rs) co) E19 G05
vouTs

Frouns 3—Operating charactertetio of typical counter showing varialion of cou
rate with wolied valage. aed

‘The resolving time and maximum counting rate of the circuit were
determined by the msthod suggested by Schiff.’

In figure 4 the aolid line shows Sohiff’s theoretical curve of counting
rato, (V/T), times resolving time, (r), plotted against the ratio of tots

Fi
|

4

bo

el

a

4 o

Ny
Frounn 4,—-Eificiency characterietic of counter circuit.
Ne=-Total number of pulses counted in time T.

Ne= Total number of pulses In counter in time 7

7= Resolving tlme of oiroult, q

particles through the counter, (No), to the number recorded by the «
counter, N, ‘The maximum counting rate occurs when N,/N=e and

the resolving time is determined from the value of the Maxime,
NrT/T=1/e. Tho circles show tho experimental points which wate:

T Phys, Rov, 60, 88 (1008),

‘onl of Research of the Natrona] Boreau of Standards

| .

Research Paper 1254

Frounr 5.—Complete assembly includeng counter tuber, oaeuum-tube circutt,
Baragraph, rato trananuttor, and neces y bulterves.



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Frequency Meter for Geiger-Miller Counter 57

Iii. ADJUSTMENT OF SENSITIVITY

Since the first twin triode operates as a unit to provide the required
; pulses for rectification, tho only circuit change requirod to alter the
roading of the meter, M, for a givon pulse rate, is that of changing tho
f capacitance of C;, Increasing this value for C, will increase the
quantity of charge per pulse applied 10 ,. ‘This moans of adjust-
, ment is adequate for such purposes ns to adjust the moter reading
40 that o givon intensity will come at on appropriate scale division.
tango changes in sensitivity are best obtained by changing the sizo
of the Geiger-Miiller counter tube. The range of intensity that can
be measured with a given counter will usually oxtond to about 10
times tho lowest valuo for which tho counter will givo 9 satisfactory
treading. Above this value tho rate of pulsos is so high that the “dead
time” destroys tho linearity of response. ‘Thorofore, the large counters
useful for the moasuremont of low intensities fail to operate satis-
factorily when tho intensity rises above a cortain limit. Tho remod}
is to uso o smaller counter tube for tho higher intensities, ‘Tho cirouit
described here works equally well, with minor modifications, for
rGeiger-Miller tube counters ranging in size from 0.6 by 1.0 cm to
5by 30 em, according to our exporionce. ‘Tho calibration curyeshown.
in igure 2 is for 9 counter tube 1 by 1 cm as a gommea-ray dosage
indicator for an 8-hour exposure in terms of roontgens.

-IV, CIRCUIT FOR RAPIDLY DECAYING SOURCES

In the adaptation of the preceding cireuit to tho use of Goigor-
; Mallor counters for rapidly decaying sources and for use with activated
foils in direct contact with tho counter, considerable changes are
necessary. The high-voltage polarity must be reversed and applied
to the central electrode through a resistor, so thot tho outer olectrode
may be operated at ground potential. To allow flexibility in use and
sitaplicity in replacement of faulty or badly contaminated counters,
8 8-foot single conductor, low-capacity, shielded cable and one
} amphenol cable connector are used to connect the counter to the
amplifier. For simplicity in connecting the counter to tho cable, a
short section of the high-voliago wire and counter terminal wore loft
unshielded, with no apparent trouble from pick-up of stray cloctrical
disturbances. The high-voltago selector, S;, mits counters with
widely differont working voltages to bo used with a minimum of
F trouble in going from ono to the other, A switch and voltego dividor
“system is provided for connecting tho voltmeter circuit to the high
voltage for rapid checks, |

Sinco linear response to counting rates up to 100,000 por minute is
desirable, GAC7 tubes are substituted as amplifiors, and the time
constants are kept. fairly small. Reforring to figuro 3, it is to bo noted
that tho sereen-grid voltages on 7; and 23 aro supplied by different
methods, 7, by a dropping rosistor, and J, by ® voltage divider.
Since more than enough signal is available at tho grid of 75 to drive it
to saturation, tho grid is biusod boyond the cutoff point, which
reduces the tondency to oscillate, and therefore oliminates the neces-
ity for decoupling resistors and capacitors in the plate circuit, and
removes small pulses and ripples due to loakages and imporfeot filtering
in the voltage supplies.



we Mee Poets.

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Our Findings during this survey indicate
Sive monitoring of 211 areas in ca rediogct

used, er hand? ec.

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Pictiglas with » considerable cavity behind the
idea to reduce this effect. “The sources were
ited on aluminum 0.00035 in. thick. - How-
e e material of the source teal ‘would ¢ cause

“A number of P® sources were measured in the
arrangement as described. The values obiained
were in general egreement with those expected, but
it became obvious that some independent check
was required to establish the reliability of the
measurements. For this purpose @ thin mica-
window counter of the bell type was constructed
and arranged so that a source could be mounted
very close to the window in an accurately reprodu-
tible location. This was achieved by mounting
the counter with the mica window up and laying
the sources, properly centered, directly on the
younter. The curvature of the mica. window
ided a small but definite separation between
andthe source. This arrangement is repre-
seiited in figure 3, where Sis th source and M the
nica Window.

"To determine the solid angle for this position of
the source a sample of RaD was prepared from

extracted from pitchblende to be used as a
eo: The radium content of this ore was

u measured, and the total amount of lead
was determined quantitatively. From the above
iata and the known weight of lead in the standard,
the number of beta rays per second from the Ral}
_ 2 equilibrium with the RaD could be calculated.

Fiovne 3.—Mica-window counter.

@=- for Beta Rays

doc.h 17 ee

- eonsiderable : baék-scattering, ss the Phosphorus

vused did not have a high specific activity, and
there also would be some’ self-absorption. ‘These

: effects tend to counteract each other.

1. Independent Check on Solid Angle

The ratio of the observed number of counts to this
calculated value gives the effective aperture of the
counter. With this information available, an ali-
quot was taken from one of the P® solutions, of
such amount to give a convenient counting rate
in the inverted mica-window counter. The count-
ing rate multiplied by the above ratio gives the
number of disintegrations per second in the sliquot
of P®, Multiplying again by the aliquot ratio,
the number of disintegrations is obteined in the
original P® sample, which hed previously been
measured in the chamber with small solid angle.
In'making these measurements in comparison with
the RaD+-E standard, care was taken to deposit
the P® on tlie same backing material as was used.
for the standard end over the same area, This
reduces the. back-seattering correction to a small
value, dependent only on the difference in energies
of the RaE and P¥ bete rays. The mica window
had 8 thickness ~ 6 mg/cm’, so that the absorp-.
tion corrections would also be nearly the same.
When comparing the measurements in the
arrangement with large solid engle with those
obtained in the apparatus with small solid angle,
it is to be noted that whereas the effect of back~
scattering in the former has been reduced, this is
not true for the small-angle arrangement as there
were several milligrams of phosphorus in the
sources of approximately 0.5-millicurie strength,
‘Therefore, we would expect the value obtained in
this case to be somewhat higher than that obtained
from comparison with the RaD-+-E standard. On
the other hand, for the large solid ‘angle arrange-
ment there is almost no self-absorption of beta
rays in the material of the source due to the
smallness of the sample, whereas in the small
solid-angle apparatus 2 source of approximately
0.5 me weighs about 30 mg and extends over a
ttle less then a square centimeter. The self-
absorption will be considerable under these
conditions. A measurement gave 0.489 me for
30 mg in the high, lege solid-angle arrangement
and 0.488 me for the low solid-angle arrangement.
Under the conditions of these measurements the

93

if


aS a young man.

Egeipment he designedTM for the study
6 cosmic ray intensity th the
Stratosphere. Okinfo from Dr. Mendel


148 Qorey Resecrcb of the National Bureau of Standards f

the length and oircumference within the limits indicated. These tubss “¢.
are mado in quantity ‘as containers for such materials as tooth-paste ¥
and are furnished with one end fitted with the conventional gorpw cap"
and the opposite end open to tho full diameter of the tube, Made by
mass-production methods these tubes are inoxpensive and of very
uniform dimensions, and therefore are suitable is a component of &
beta-ray counter. Thoy are in the hard temper, which enables
to withstand complete evacuation with no tendency to collapas,

I. COPPERPLATING THE ALUMINUM TUBE

Tt is of advantege to construct counters that can be filled and
venled permanently so that they will maintain thoir chamioteriatics
over considerable periods of time, This requires tho elimination of
wex seals, gaskete, and similar arrangements, To accomplish this
with tho aluminum-tube counters, it has been found desirable to plate
the aluminum with copper to permit the use of aoft solder in joming_
tho parts, Thore are several mothods by which an adherent plating’
of copper oan be applied to aluminum. For the benofit of those who’
may desire to construct such counters, the method of plating found.
moat convenient is described. . toe

‘The first step is to clean the aluminum surfaces to be plat
atrong solution of potassium hydroxide, immersing the elutainun-

e

until a smooth film of water will epread over it uniformly, indicating
that the aluminum surface is clean. ‘The next step is to anodize the
aluminum aurface, After rinsing all the ide solution

potassium

ed as an cleotrode in a solution of 10 to 15
percent oxalic acid to produce an anodic film on the surface, ‘It is
convenient to anodizo two pioces together by using them as electrodes:
connected to the alternating-ourrent supply, through a variable-volings
transformer. Initially, the voltage applied should be of the order. of
Lor 2 volts, and this may be increased to around 50 ‘volts as the anodio:
film doyolops, Care should be taken to hold the voltage low ‘enough
at all times to avoid heating of the solution by the ourrent. After
15 to 20 minutes the aluminum is xemoved, ringed in old water, and
etched for a few soconda in  1-percent hydrofluoric acid solution until
a slight ovolution of gas is spparent. It is then immediately rinsed in {

cold water, and tho surface is ready for plating. The usual! copper
sulfate solution, to which a small amount of sulfuric acid hes
added, is usod tor plating, ‘The plating of a layer of copper a fow 3
thousandths of on inch in thickness requires about 20 minutes, In *
constructing the counters, both ends of the tubes are plated with
copper, If copper is deposited over a larger area than js desited, the
exooss may be romoved at any time by otohing with strong nitric acid,
which has little effect on the aluminum. , ,
The otching of the anodio coating with hydrofluoric acid may b
eliminated if care is taken to develop o thin coating in the anodizing
rocess, The proper thickness is obteined by interrupting the-anodiz $
ing process when the potential roaches about 2 volts, Some difficulty “¥
may be encountered in determining the proper conditions to sécure an &
adherent coating of copper by use of this alternative method. ‘

from the sluminum, it ie us

Fasnatcd Rereaech of the National Bureau of Standards Revearch Paper 16th

Fiaune 3, -Completed counter,

zda\y 00P



102 eo of Research of the National Bureau of Stondarde than

‘To test the effectiveness of the solar shield and thermal insulation
of the battery box several test flights have been made with models
eesembled as described above. Weakened signals of varying ‘fro-
quency due to drop in battery temperatures as well ag slowing of:the
motor would be expected in the absence of sufficient protection for' the
battery compartment, In all flights strong gignals of frequency
constant to +60 Kelocyelos (0.001%) were recaived both on :the
ascent and also on the descont whore the rate of fall was sufficiently
slow, In some of the flights the slot cut in the battery box to admit %
the telemotor was Ieft open, This resulted in a slowing of the métor

.3 @O::..1 Improved Oland Radio Meteorograph 108

MB.

RATIOS

| \
sa
“ \u
r 1006
TELE CEE “9 ar
n n 1 n n 1 L HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE

+ a co a
PRESSURE "oe
Fraunn 8—Colidration of curve of pressure element with redetermined points to
show acourady and reproduaibitity. *
‘Bolld etrotes, original callbration; and opoo oigoles, recelibration, Maximum devistion, 1 milibar,

at the higher altitudes. When this opening was properly closed very
little change in motor speed was observed, . .
‘Tho question of accuracy under actual working conditions is difficult
to deal with in the absonce of a standard for comparison. The best
we can offor ia a comparison of one of our records made on Suly 0,
1938 nt 5:37 a. m. with ono made for the Weather Bureau by the lavy,
using @ Navy type of instrument * released at a point about 8 miles
awey at 6:00.2,m. This record is shown in figure 9 plotted on an
adiabatio chart, ‘There is 9 consistent difference throughout in the
temperatures, ours being above. At thefpresont time we have no
adequate explanation for thig discrepancy. It is posable that the
calibration of one or both instruments used in the above comparisons

+H. Diamond, W. &, Hlomau, Jr,, and ¥, W, Dunmore, Bul, Am, Bfotéor, Boo, 18, 18 (4687).

Frovnn 9.—Records of Navy type instrument (dotted Hnee) ploited on same chart
‘oith die (oolid hnes) ablained by authors! 9 iiaad

Tostruvwonts released about the anms time at points § miles apart,

wes in error. Tho general agreement in trends is very satisfactory
nd 1 indientes that these methods can be used reliably to obtain upper-
sir data,

We acknowledge the aid of the United States Weather Bureau in
providing means for the construction and test of the tolemetor and for
suggestions regarding improvements and modifications,

Wasninaron, Septeraber 28, 1938.

ASI Y 2OP



a) Cosmic Rays in Stratosphere 587
| te relay, Z. The reloy is arranged to koy the radio transmitter,

The fles) voltage of the neon tube and the size of capacitor C4,
wswoll as the magnitude of the leveled pulses, determine the number
al counts or discharges in the Geiger-Miller tube necessary to ao-
tuste the reley. This number has varied from 36 to 100 in the 15
wits that havo boon used for stratosphere soundings.

Tho intograting circuit, which is similar in somo respocts to one
# described by Johnson,’ is essential to prevent a largo increase in the

boying rate of the transmitter when the counting rate is stepped up,
This Is because of sposd limitations of tho ground recording system.
{s the earlior work of the authors with low-speed counters the inte-
ting circuit was not essential. It was found that with the ampli-
@ ‘ring end integrating circuit of figure 2, higher counting rates could
i behandled than could be provided with counters of tho sizo dosoribed

C008, =| mogoha 5 volte
101 pl. pol hm Bows volts
alae Hasdoignaa ‘Bats volts
‘Ryoid mangas

lel, thus approximately doubling the counting rate, Los
; characteristic of a typical counter and its assovintod cirouit os
 simction of voltago applicd to the counter is shown by figure 3,
@ The fact that the counting rato is constant over o 96-volt range shows
st not only does tho counter have a satisfactory platoan but that the
fereling stago of the amplifior is operating satisfactorily. ‘Tests of
ttelineatity of the integrating cireuit have been made in thros differ.
q “ ways with oqually satisfactory results in oach case. With differ.
«at intensilies of radiation applied to the counter, the flashing rates
‘avo bean compared to the counting rates of a Cenco counter con~
# weled directly to the output of the first stago of the ampliftor ao as to
mond tho impulses of the counter directly. ‘Tho numbor of impulses
yt flash was the samo for all counting rates tested. The second
at consisted in placing radium samples of different Imown intonsi~
esata fixed distance from tho counter tube, The ratios of the differ-
# axes in counting rates were the samo as ratios of the differences in

‘Pays, Ror, 6 O14 (1608),

; ib the provioua section, Accordingly two counters were connected
q ian