ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: This paper provides a history of the radiation warning sign with a focus on the period from 1946 to 1948. It employs previously unpublished material from the University of California Radiation Laboratory's Health Chemistry Group, the memoirs of John Gifford, and an account by George Warlick. Also considered is an alternative version of the sign's origin described by Cyrill Orly.
Subject(s)
Location Directories and Signs , Radiation , History, 20th Century , HumansABSTRACT
A review is presented of the history of radiation detection instrumentation. Specific radiation detection systems that are discussed include the human senses, photography, calorimetry, color dosimetry, ion chambers, electrometers, electroscopes, proportional counters, Geiger Mueller counters, scalers and rate meters, barium platinocyanide, scintillation counters, semiconductor detectors, radiophotoluminescent dosimeters, thermoluminescent dosimeters, optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters, direct ion storage, electrets, cloud chambers, bubble chambers, and bubble dosimeters. Given the broad scope of this review, the coverage is limited to a few key events in the development of a given detection system and some relevant operating principles. The occasional anecdote is included for interest.
Subject(s)
Equipment Design/history , Radiography/history , Radiography/instrumentation , Radiometry/history , Radiometry/instrumentation , Transducers/history , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Radiation Dosage , Radiography/methods , Radiometry/methodsABSTRACT
A review is presented of the history of radiation detection instrumentation. Specific radiation detection systems that are discussed include the human senses, photography, calorimetry, color dosimetry, ion chambers, electrometers, electroscopes, proportional counters, Geiger Mueller counters, scalers and rate meters, barium platinocyanide, scintillation counters, semiconductor detectors, radiophotoluminescent dosimeters, thermoluminescent dosimeters, optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters, direct ion storage, electrets, cloud chambers, bubble chambers, and bubble dosimeters. Given the broad scope of this review, the coverage is limited to a few key events in the development of a given detection system and some relevant operating principles. The occasional anecdote is included for interest.