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Speciation and Bioavailability Measurements of Environmental Plutonium Using Diffusion in Thin Films
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Published on: November 9, 2015

Beta shape-factor function and activity determination of 241Pu.

Karsten Kossert1, Ole J Nähle, Agustín Grau Carles

  • 1Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany. karsten.kossert@ptb.de

Applied Radiation and Isotopes : Including Data, Instrumentation and Methods for Use in Agriculture, Industry and Medicine
|April 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers accurately measured plutonium-241 activity concentration using liquid scintillation counters. A new beta spectrum calculation resolved discrepancies between measurement methods, improving accuracy in radioactivity assessments.

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Area of Science:

  • Nuclear physics
  • Radiochemistry
  • Metrology

Background:

  • Accurate measurement of low-energy beta emitters like plutonium-241 is crucial for international comparisons.
  • Liquid scintillation counting with multiple photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) is a standard technique.
  • Discrepancies in activity concentration measurements using different efficiency determination methods have been noted.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To accurately determine the activity concentration of a plutonium-241 solution for an international key comparison.
  • To investigate and resolve discrepancies between the (3)H-efficiency tracing and triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) methods.
  • To refine the computation of the beta emission spectrum for first-forbidden transitions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized liquid scintillation counters with two and three photomultiplier tubes (PMTs).
  • Determined counting efficiencies using (3)H-efficiency tracing and TDCR methods.
  • Calculated the beta emission spectrum using a newly determined shape-factor function based on experimental data.

Main Results:

  • The computed beta spectrum, using the shape-factor function C(W)=1-1.9582W+0.96078 W(2) and E(β,max)=21.6 keV, showed good agreement with experimental data.
  • Activity concentrations determined by the (3)H-efficiency tracing and TDCR methods agreed well when using the new shape-factor function.
  • A significant discrepancy was observed when assuming an allowed transition (C(W)=1).

Conclusions:

  • The accurate computation of the beta spectrum is essential for resolving discrepancies in liquid scintillation counting.
  • The developed method using a refined shape-factor function allows for consistent activity concentration measurements.
  • This work provides a pathway to reconcile differences observed between various radioactivity measurement techniques.