RaDoM: a lung dosimeter for radon progeny

This paper discusses a novel Timepix-based on-line radon dose monitor called RaDoM. The detector provides a direct estimate of the effective dose to the lung via a system of filters having the same absorption characteristics as this organ and a measurement of the PAEC (the potential alpha energy concentration). Measurements performed in a reference radon chamber and in normal environmental conditions showed that RaDoM well follows changes in the radon concentration and is accurate in both long- and short-term measurements. The paper describes the detector and associated software for data acquisition and analysis, and compares the measurement of the lung dose with the value derived from a measurement of the radon concentration.