The luminescence of irradiated transparent media and the Čerenkov effect - I. The luminescence of aqueous solutions of radioactive isotopes

Abstract

Studies of the luminescence induced in aqueous solutions of radioactive isotopes are described. The relative intensities of the effects observed with various high energy β - and β-γ -emitting species support the hypothesis that the luminescence induced is due to the Čerenkov effect rather than excitation of the substrate. The relative and absolute intensities observed are in general agreement with the theory of Frank & Tamm. Aqueous solutions of α -emitters, and of β -emitters whose β -particles have energies below the limit for the Čerenkov effect, show a weak luminescence attributable to excitation of the substrate.