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Standardisation of 54Mn and 65Zn using a software coincidence counting system
Miroslav Havelka1, Pavel Auerbach, Jana Sochorová
1Czech Metrology Institute, Inspectorate for Ionizing Radiation, Radiová 1, 102 00 Prague, Czech Republic. mhavelka@cmi.cz
Summary
This study introduces a software coincidence counting system to simplify radionuclide standardization. The new method efficiently determines optimal settings for 54Mn and 65Zn, reducing tedious manual adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear physics
- Radiochemistry
- Metrology
Background:
- Accurate radionuclide activity determination is crucial for various scientific applications.
- Traditional 4π(PC)-gamma coincidence counting methods for standardization, particularly for 65Zn, present challenges in optimizing efficiency extrapolation curves.
- Manual determination of optimal gamma-ray energy window settings is time-consuming and complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel software coincidence counting system for radionuclide standardization.
- To demonstrate the system's effectiveness in simplifying and optimizing the determination of activity for 54Mn and 65Zn.
- To compare the results obtained using the new software method with conventional coincidence counting techniques.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a software coincidence counting system that records individual pulse time and amplitude data.
- Employed both conventional self-absorption variation and computer discrimination for efficiency variation.
- Determined optimal gamma-ray energy window settings for 65Zn standardization using data from 54Mn and 65Zn itself.
- Investigated the setting of PC channel thresholds for K and (K+L) electrons.
Main Results:
- The software coincidence counting system significantly reduced the complexity and tedium associated with optimizing settings for radionuclide standardization.
- Optimal gamma-ray energy window settings for 65Zn were successfully derived, leading to a linear efficiency-extrapolation curve.
- The new method facilitated multiple data evaluations from a single data collection process.
- Results obtained using the software system were comparable to those from conventional coincidence counting.
Conclusions:
- The developed software coincidence counting system offers a more efficient and less tedious approach to radionuclide standardization.
- This method enhances the accuracy and ease of determining activity for isotopes like 54Mn and 65Zn.
- The system's ability to set coincidence parameters post-data collection provides greater flexibility in data analysis.
