strålläckage

Strålläckage is a term used to describe unwanted leakage of energy, most commonly radiation or light, from a system, enclosure, or instrument. In practice, strålläckage refers to any energy that bypasses the intended barriers or paths, leading to unintended exposure, background signals, or measurement bias. The concept is relevant in several fields, notably nuclear safety and optical instrumentation.

In a nuclear or radiological context, strålläckage occurs when shielding, seals, penetrations, or components fail to fully contain radiation. Causes include gaps, cracks, imperfect welds, door or gland seals, and leakage through auxiliary systems. Consequences can include higher occupational exposure, contaminated surfaces, or incorrect readings in instruments. Prevention relies on robust shielding design, careful layout, quality manufacturing, and regular leak tests and surveys using appropriate detectors. Safety standards define acceptable dose-rate limits outside shields and require corrective actions if leakage exceeds those limits.

In optical systems, strålläckage (often termed stray light leakage) happens when undesired light enters or reflects within an instrument, reducing image contrast or measurement accuracy. Common sources are reflections from internal surfaces, scattering from roughness, gaps in baffling, or misalignment. Mitigation involves optical design with adequate baffling and light traps, high-absorptivity coatings, blacking of non-optical areas, precise alignment, and calibration to quantify and subtract stray light.

Assessments of strålläckage typically involve modeling and empirical testing to estimate how much energy escapes the intended boundaries and to verify that safety, performance, and measurement goals are met.