I am a beginner so I am sorry if my question is dumb.
In a project I want to detect radiation with one or more than one photo diode. I have already googled this topic and found some electric circuits but not in combination with an arduino. So my (dumb) question is:
If I make a simple circuit for a photo diode, so to say just put a resistor between 5V and this photo diode and make a connection to e.g. Analog Input 0. So the same construction you would use for a ordinary photo diode circuit to detct light.
If I know darken my photo diode and maybe convert my input to volatge with the arduino does this refer to the (gamma) radiation?
It cannot be that simple or? So it would be nice if you could tell me my mistakes or help me to get the hang of it.
// ReadAnalogVoltage
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
// the loop routine runs over and over again forever:
void loop() {
int sensorValue = analogRead(A0);
float voltage = sensorValue * (5.0 / 1023.0);
Serial.println(voltage);
delay(1000);
}
I am looking forward to hear from you. And thank you for your time.
By "radiation" do you mean light, or alpha, beta and gamma radiation associated with nuclear reactions?
If light, google "arduino photodiode tutorial" for lots of information.
Photodiodes are weakly sensitive to nuclear radiation but you would have a hard time discriminating the effect from that of light.
You can not use a photodiode to detect radiation as if it was light.
Some photodiodes are sensitive for radiation, but you have to use a circuit that amplifies a lot without causing the noise to destroy the signal. Such an circuit must be properly build or it won't work.
Start here:
There is a link to the page of the maker. If you carefully build that circuit with that photodiode, you might be able to get it working.
The photodiode must also be in total darkness.
Geiger tubes are able to detect gamma radiation, albeit inefficiently. There are lots of Arduino projects featuring Geiger tube circuits, including kits you could put together yourself. Easy, fun and useful!
