Microradiography with Alpha-Rays

ALPHA-PARTICLES are very strongly absorbed even by thin layers of materials. Their path through matter is almost exactly a straight line, and their effect on a photographic emulsion is very strong. These properties seem to be well suited for micro-radiographic mass determinations. Since such methods promise to be of value in several research fields, such as biology, medicine, mineralogy and metallurgy, experiments have been undertaken to determine the potentialities and optimal conditions for alpha-microradiography. The main advantage of using alpha-particles as compared with soft X-rays1would be the much simpler apparatus needed and the relative independence of the absorption on the composition of the object.