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Characterization of photon-emitting wide area reference sources.
1Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany. Ole.J.Naehle@ptb.de
Summary
A new procedure calibrates photon-emitting sources for activity and emission rate, meeting ISO 8769 standards. This method uses NaI detectors and Monte Carlo simulations for accurate wide area reference source characterization.
Area of Science:
- Metrology
- Nuclear Instrumentation
- Radiation Detection
Background:
- Accurate calibration of photon-emitting wide area reference sources is crucial for various applications.
- Recent revisions to ISO 8769 necessitate updated calibration procedures.
- Existing methods may not fully address the requirements for surface emission rate and uniformity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a procedure for calibrating photon-emitting wide area reference sources.
- To ensure compliance with the latest ISO 8769 standard.
- To accurately determine source activity, surface emission rate, and uniformity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a large volume Sodium Iodide (NaI) detector with a cross-table scanning system.
- Employed a radiography system for source characterization.
- Applied Monte Carlo techniques to assess the surface emission rate.
Main Results:
- Successfully applied the developed calibration procedure to reference sources of Americium-241 ((241)Am), Cobalt-57 ((57)Co), Cesium-137 ((137)Cs), and Cobalt-60 ((60)Co).
- Demonstrated the capability to calibrate sources in terms of activity, surface emission rate, and uniformity.
- Identified and highlighted issues related to definitions and practical application of ISO 8769:2010.
Conclusions:
- The developed procedure provides a reliable method for calibrating photon-emitting wide area reference sources.
- The method aligns with the updated requirements of the ISO 8769 standard.
- Further attention to definitions and practical implementation of the standard is recommended.
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