New advanced in alpha spectrometry by liquid scintillation methods

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5466540

McDowell, W. J.; Case, G. N.

Although the ability to count alpha particles by liquid scintillation methods has been long recognized, limited use has been made of the method because of problems of high background and alpha energy identification. In recent years some new developments in methods of introducing the alpha-emitting nuclide to the scintillator, in detector construction, and in electronics for processing the energy analog and time analog signals from the detector have allowed significant alleviation of the problems of alpha spectrometry by liquid scintillation. Energy resolutions of 200 to 300 keV full peak width at half maximum and background counts of < 0.01 counts/min with rejection with rejection of > 99% of all beta plus gamma interference is now possible. Alpha liquid scintillation spectrometry is now suitable for a wide range of applications, from the accurate quantitative determination of relatively large amounts of known nuclides in laboratory-generated samples to the detection and identification of very small, subpicocurie amounts of alpha emitters in environmental-type samples. Suitable nuclide separation procedures, sample preparation methods, and instrument configurations are available for a variety of analyses.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5466540
• Report Number(s): CONF-791117-26
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440100* -- Radiation Instrumentation
440101 -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors &amp; Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALPHA DETECTION
ALPHA SPECTRA
ALPHA SPECTROMETERS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
DETECTION
ENERGY RESOLUTION
ISOTOPES
LIQUID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
RESOLUTION
SAMPLE HOLDERS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS