A new method of alpha ray measurement using a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

We propose a new method of alpha($alpha$)-ray measurement that detects helium atoms with a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer(QMS). A demonstration is undertaken with a plastic-covered $^{241}$Am $alpha$-emitting source to detect $alpha$-rays stopped in the capsule. We successfully detect helium atoms that diffuse out of the capsule by accumulating them for one to 20 hours in a closed chamber. The detected amount is found to be proportional to the accumulation time. Our method is applicable to probe $alpha$-emitting radioactivity in bulk material.