Detector for rock hunting
Posted: 27 Jul 2023, 18:04
Here is a little tool I built recently, based on Matthias' Mini SiPM Driver Board, using a 1" dia x 1" CsI(Tl) coupled to a single MICROFC-60035 SiPM:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1089
When looking for radioactive rocks in the wild, I always found it annoying to keep my eyes on the display of whatever gamma detector I was using. Concentrating on small changes in click rate is also less than ideal.
On the other hand, the human brain / ear can easily and subconciously detect very small variations in tone pitch / frequency.
So I hooked up the Trigger/TTL output of the Mini SiD to an ESP 8266 programmed as a voltage controlled oscillator:
The arduino sketch for the ESP 8266 is also very simple, I'm sure there is lots of room for improvement:
The output (pin12) of the ESP 8266 connects to a passive piezo buzzer. A small LiPo battery powers the unit and can be recharged via USB.
The unit generates an audible tone with a frequency that increases with the amount of detected radiation.
Everything is installed in a standard DN 50 plumbing tube with end caps, available at home improvement stores, and a 3D printed handle:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1089
When looking for radioactive rocks in the wild, I always found it annoying to keep my eyes on the display of whatever gamma detector I was using. Concentrating on small changes in click rate is also less than ideal.
On the other hand, the human brain / ear can easily and subconciously detect very small variations in tone pitch / frequency.
So I hooked up the Trigger/TTL output of the Mini SiD to an ESP 8266 programmed as a voltage controlled oscillator:
- schematic.png (4.72 KiB) Viewed 15334 times
Code: Select all
void setup() {
pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
int frequencyinput = analogRead(A0);
frequencyinput = map(frequencyinput, 55, 1023, 100, 5000);
tone(12, frequencyinput);
delay(10);
}The unit generates an audible tone with a frequency that increases with the amount of detected radiation.