Standardisation of ⁶⁴Cu using a software coincidence counting system

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Radiochemistry
• Metrology

Background:

• Accurate determination of radionuclide activity is crucial for various applications, including medical imaging and research.
• Traditional standardization methods can be complex and require precise parameter optimization.
• Copper-64 ((64)Cu) is a positron-emitting radionuclide with significant use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

Purpose of the Study:

• To standardize the activity of the radionuclide copper-64 ((64)Cu).
• To evaluate the efficiency extrapolation method combined with 4π(proportional counter)-gamma coincidence counting.
• To implement and assess software coincidence counting for primary activity measurement.

Main Methods:

• Activity determination using the efficiency extrapolation method.
• Application of 4π(proportional counter)-gamma coincidence counting.
• Utilisation of software coincidence counting for digital primary activity measurement and parameter optimization.

Main Results:

• Successful standardization of (64)Cu activity was achieved.
• Software coincidence counting simplified the optimization of coincidence parameters.
• A specific gamma-ray energy window was identified, ensuring identical detection efficiency for electron capture (EC) and beta decay branches, leading to a linear, zero-slope extrapolation curve.

Conclusions:

• The efficiency extrapolation method combined with 4π(PC)-γ coincidence counting is effective for (64)Cu standardization.
• Software coincidence counting offers a simplified and efficient approach to primary activity measurement.
• The identified gamma-ray energy window is critical for achieving accurate and reliable radionuclide activity standardization.