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Title: A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF USING SCINTILLATING FIBERS FOR LOW ENERGY BETA COUNTING. Final Report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4776744

The utility of a low energy beta counting system based on bundles of scintillating fibers was investigated. This approach offers the advantages of a minimum of sample preparation, relative insensitivity to sample form and chemistry, and the ability to be used as a flow counter while retaining much of the efficiency and energy proportionality of liquid scintillation counters. Measurements indicate that 0.5 mm diameter fibers are a near optimum choice which yield an efficiency of 30% for C/sup 14/ counting. Usable efficiencies of 18 to 21% were obtained when the solution was heavily colored. Further improvement in efficiency and sensitivity can be obtained by using two photomultiplier tubes viewing the fiber bundle as opposed to the single-ended geometry employed in thls preliminary study. Sample volumes of 50cc are achievable with an improved system and it is suggested that additional work be undertaken to fully exploit the technique. The fiber counter can be of vast utility to many research and industrial groups in a diversity of fields. The ease of use should greatly facilitate analysis and measurements made with the aid of the radioisotopes C/ saup 14/, S/sup 35/, and tritium. (auth)

Research Organization:
Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago. Armour Research Foundation
DOE Contract Number:
AT(11-1)-578
NSA Number:
NSA-16-031811
OSTI ID:
4776744
Report Number(s):
ARF-1192-6
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English