More recently, germanium crystal detectors are used because of their improved resolution. Photon measurement in a germanium detector is more complex and relies on the generation and detection of electron-hole pairs leading to the appearance of an electrical pulse, which is proportional to the number of pairs present. This method of detection and measurement is well suited to SwRI's work because it provides excellent peak resolution which is not generally obtainable with ordinary sodium iodide scintillation detectors. High peak resolution provides a greater ability to discriminate between individual radionuclides. Better accuracy improves the potential for simultaneously interrogating various engine components having different chemical compositions.
Subatomic activity is governed by quantum rules that operate according to chance and probability.
The decay of the nucleus of a radioactive atom, with the nucleus ejecting a beta particle and becoming the nucleus of an atom of a different element, is governed entirely by probability. For each particular type of radioactive element, there is a specific length of time during which 50 percent of the atoms will have decayed. In a recent application, RAT technology has been used in the real-time measurement of oil consumption and the quantification of effects of oil consumption and oil composition on diesel engine emissions using different combustion technologies. However, measurement of engine lube oil consumption differs significantly in methodology from the measurement of engine-parts wear. The oil consumption measurement is based on tritiation of the oil, followed by the measurement of radioactivity levels in continuous samples collected from the exhaust.