THE YIELD OF CHARACTERISTIC X-RAYS EXCITED BY $beta$-RAYS

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1957 · Intern. J. Appl. Radiation Isotopes

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-708X(57)90270-3· OSTI ID:4333607

Starfelt, N; Cederlund, J; Liden, K

The intensity of the K x-ray peak from beta -ray sources of Pr/sup 143/ (E/sub beta max/ 0.92 Mev) and Ce/sup 144/ - Pr/sup 144/ (E/sub beta max/ 2.98 Mev) sandwiched by tin or lead radiators was measured with a NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer. The following maximum yields given as photons per disintegration were found: tin + Pr/sup 143/, (15-35 kev): 0.028 at a radiator thickness of 68 mg/cm/sup 2/, lead + Pr/sup 143/, (60 to 100 kev): 0.043 at 120 mg/cm/sup 2/, and lead + Ce/sup 144/-Pr/sup 144/ (60 to 100 kev): 0.21 at 270 mg/ cm/sup 2/. These results together with those of Liden and Starfelt show that: (1) The ratio between the number of photons in the K x-ray peak and the total number of high energy bremsstrahlung photons for optimum radiator thickness is about 3: 1 for low-energy betas + tin, and about 1: 1 for high-energy betas + lead. (2) The K x-ray peak intensity increases with E/sub beta max/ and with the Z of the radiators; but so does the high-energy bremsstrahlung. The radiator thickness for maximum yield increases with E/sub beta max/ at low energies and levels off at a value of about 300 mg/cm/sup 2/ for high-Z radiators and E/sub beta max/ > 3 Mev. Some practical applications are commented upon, particularly the possibilities of Kr/sup 85/. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Lund, Sweden
• NSA Number: NSA-12-000635
• OSTI ID: 4333607
• Journal Information: Intern. J. Appl. Radiation Isotopes, Journal Name: Intern. J. Appl. Radiation Isotopes Vol. Vol: 2
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ATOMIC MODELS
BETA PARTICLES
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITATION
KRYPTON 85
LEAD
PHYSICS
PRASEODYMIUM 143
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SPECTROMETERS
TIN
X RADIATION