Narrow Results

PIXE analysis opened to public was conducted as an event of an open school of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, which is semiannually held in order to arouse public interest in the science of radiation and nuclear power. The experiment was performed using a vertical in air (Via) PIXE system at Tohoku university. Forty-seven people participated and enjoyed this open experiment.

We have annually held an open experiment of PIXE analysis since 1996 to get people's understanding on nuclear technology and radiation science. Up to the present, more than 270 participants joined and enjoyed the open experiments. This year, we demonstrated performance of a submilli-PIXE camera and had sixty-nine participants in the open experiment of PIXE. Elemental spatial distribution images gave deep impression to the participants. Half of the participants were high school students since the open experiment of PIXE was held during the period of open campus of Tohoku University. About ten percents of the participants were junior high school students. Our open experiment of PIXE was very effective to arouse public interest in radiation science and nuclear technology.