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Photon/electron-rejecting alpha liquid scintillation (PERALS{reg_sign}) spectrometry: A review

Journal Article · · Radioactivity and Radiochemistry
OSTI ID:229671
Alpha spectrometry by liquid scintillation has become a practical reality within the last three to four years. The present ability to identify and reject virtually all pulses from beta and gamma radiation (<99.95) and to obtain useful (5%) resolution of alpha energies allows alpha liquid-scintillation spectrometry to be viewed in a different perspective than formerly. Instrumentation and reagents now are available so that radiochemical laboratories can consider alpha liquid scintillation as a useful addition to their present methods of alpha counting and spectrometry. Coupling this instrumentation with extractive scintillators that have efficient light output and high liquid-liquid extraction selectivity for a given radionuclide produces a system that allows both great sensitivity and high accuracy in alpha counting. Thus the method is applicable to both the detection of low levels of activity in the environment (0.001 cpm) and to the accurate determination of the amount of an alpha-emitting radionuclide for accountability purposes (accuracy limited only by sampling errors). This article attempts to survey the known applications of alpha liquid scintillation and preview some additional applications that are just now developing.
OSTI ID:
229671
Journal Information:
Radioactivity and Radiochemistry, Journal Name: Radioactivity and Radiochemistry Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 3; ISSN RARAE6; ISSN 1045-845X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English