A demonstration of radioluminescence caused by a uranium mineral, Autunite, with a fluorescent material (probably copper activated zinc sulfide) in Autunite radiation viewer.
Each flashes of light represents an alpha particle (helium nuclei - 2 protons and 2 neutrons) bombarding the fluorescent material. The scintillation can just be seen with the human eye after being accustomed to complete darkness and viewed through 20x loupe.
The image intensifier was used to amplify the image so it could be taken with a camera.
Awesome Spinthariscopes! You can use many different isotopes or ores! You should use Radium (Ra-226) and Americium (Am-241) sources next. Those are sure to give you even more atomic bombardments! Beta sources work too, but not as well as alpha. The beta sources also have to be much more radioactive. Beta radiation does less damage to Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) over a long time. I would stick mainly with the alpha sources. Keep up the good work! I've actually done the same thing you have! THUMBS UP!
KarbineKyle 1 year ago