Liquid-scintillation alpha-detection techniques

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5956562

McKlveen, J W; McDowell, W J

Accurate, quantitative determinations of alpha-emitting nuclides by conventional plate-counting methods are difficult because of sample self-absorption problems in counting and because of non-reproducible losses in conventional sample separation methods. Liquid scintillation alpha spectrometry offers an attractive with no sample self-absorption or geometry problems and with 100% counting efficiency. Sample preparation may include extraction of the alpha emitter of interest by a specific organic-phase-soluble compound directly into the liquid scintillation counting medium. Detection electronics use energy and pulse-shape discrimination to yield alpha spectra without beta and gamma background interference. Specific procedures have been developed for gross alpha, uranium, plutonium, thorium, and polonium assay. Possibilities for a large number of other applications exist. Accuracy and reproducibility are typically in the 1% range. Backgrounds on the order of 0.01 cpm are readily achievable. The paper will present an overview of liquid scintillation alpha counting techniques and some of the results achieved for specific applications.

• Research Organization: Arizona State Univ., Tempe (USA). Coll. of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5956562
• Report Number(s): CONF-830539-2; ON: DE83015520
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440103* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALPHA SPECTROSCOPY
BETA SPECTROSCOPY
LIQUID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
LIQUID SCINTILLATORS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHOSPHORS
RADIATION DETECTORS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SPECTROSCOPY
USES