Difference between revisions of "Radiation Counter"
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=== Detection === | === Detection === | ||
| − | The [[Rad (metric)|rad]] is a [[Metric|metric unit]] of absorbed radiation dose, defined as 1 [[Rad (metric)|rad]] = 0.01 Gray = 0.01 [[Joule | + | The [[Rad (metric)|rad]] is a [[Metric|metric unit]] of absorbed radiation dose, defined as 1 [[Rad (metric)|rad]] = 0.01 Gray = 0.01 [[Joule]]/[[kilogram|kg]]. |
A radiation counter is generally set to ignore normal background radiation. | A radiation counter is generally set to ignore normal background radiation. | ||
Revision as of 11:34, 20 March 2019
| Basic Radiation Counter | |
|---|---|
 Sensor Device | |
| Type | Sensor Equipment |
| Tech Level | TL–5 |
| Cost | Cr250 |
| Size | 5.0 liters |
| Weight | 1.0 kg |
| Manufacturer | Various |
| Radiation Counter | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sensor Equipment |
| Tech Level | TL–8 |
| Cost | Cr100 |
| Size | 0.5 liters |
| Weight | 0.2 kg |
| Manufacturer | Various |
| Advanced Radiation Counter | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sensor Equipment |
| Tech Level | TL–10 |
| Cost | Cr100 |
| Size | 0.1 liters |
| Weight | 0.1 kg |
| Manufacturer | Various |
A Radiation Counter indicates the presence and intensity of radioactivity in the immediate vicinity.
- It is a type of sensor.
- It may form part of a Ship Sensor Suite.
Description / Specifications
A radiation counter is used to detect radioactive emissions, most commonly beta particles and gamma rays. It can be preset to give a warning signal if levels of radioactivity rise to dangerous levels. Readouts are given in specifics for (and in terms of danger to) the Sophont species that created the device: most commonly this readout is preset to safe human tolerances.
- It is a passive sensor.
Detection
The rad is a metric unit of absorbed radiation dose, defined as 1 rad = 0.01 Gray = 0.01 Joule/kg.
A radiation counter is generally set to ignore normal background radiation.
| Rad Levels | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exposure | Effect | Typical Source |
| 0.001 rads / hour | No negative long term effects. | Dental x-ray |
| 0.01 rads / hour | No negative long term effects. | Chest x-ray |
| 10 rads / hour | Radiation sickness, nausea, eventual recovery likely. | Airborne fallout as a result of a detonated thunderball device. |
| 25 rads / hour | Lowest dose to cause clinically observable blood changes. | |
| 200 rads / hour | Local dose for onset of erythema (reddened skin) in humans. | |
| 400 rads / hour | Acute radiation syndrome in humans. | |
| 1000 rads / hour | Organ failure, death within hours. Typical radiation tolerance of ordinary microchips. |
Within the crater of a detonated thunderball device. |
| 6 krads / hour | Typical radiotherapy dose, locally applied. | |
| 10 krads / hour | Rapid fatal whole-body dose, death within an hour. | |
| 400 krads / hour | Rapid organ failure, death within minutes. | Within the magnetosphere of a large gas giant. |
| 1 mrads / hour | Typical tolerance of radiation-hardened microchips | |
History & Background / Dossier
Radiation Counters are available from TL-5 onwards.
Basic models of Radiation Counter are the size of a liter bottle, while more sophisticated models are typically palm-sized. The Advanced Radiation Counter is a wrist-mounted version designed to be worn on the person or attached to the exterior of a Vacc Suit.
- Battery life is around 200 hours for TL-8 (or lower) models, and several weeks for more advanced models.
- Radiation Counters have a visual readout. More advanced models can be connected to computers for data analysis of radiation exposure.
References & Contributors / Sources
- Marc Miller. Imperial Encyclopedia (Game Designers Workshop, 1987), 56.
- Rob Caswell. "Travellers' Cache: Radiation Counter." MegaTraveller Journal 2 (1991): 41.
- Citation Missing - Traveller The New Era
- Greg Porter. Central Supply Catalog (Imperium Games, 1996), 29,34.
- Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), 635.