Radiation detected by latent metastable state of particles - changed into normal state by incident radiation

摘要

A method of detecting electromagnetic or particle radiation utilises the phenomenon of the transition of a homogeneous grain of a superconducting substance of the first type out of the metastable superconducting state into the normal state; this transition is produced by the effect of a photoelectron expelled by the impact of the photon or particle on the grain. The superconductivity and the Meissner effect remain in a latent state in the particle after the critical value of the surrounding magnetic field has been exceeded, producing a 'superheated' condition of the metastable state. A spherical homogeneous grain of the material suddenly loses this superconductivity when subjected to beta radiation. This loss of superconductivity is detected by measuring an electrical or magnetic variable associated with the change of state. A probe or detector is described which contains superheated metastable particles surrounded by a dielectric. Pref. dielectric material is epoxy resin.