The standardization of samarium-153

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Radiochemistry
• Metrology

Background:

• Accurate standardization of radionuclides is crucial for various applications, including medical imaging and research.
• Samarium-153 (Sm-153) is a medically relevant radionuclide, necessitating precise characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a precise standardization of Samarium-153 (Sm-153).
• To accurately determine the half-life and the probability per decay for the 103.2-keV gamma ray of Sm-153.

Main Methods:

• Standardization of Sm-153 was performed using 4 pi beta liquid-scintillation counting.
• The probability per decay for the 103.2-keV gamma ray was measured using two germanium detectors.
• Half-life measurements utilized both liquid-scintillation and pressurized-ionization-chamber techniques.

Main Results:

• The overall uncertainty for the Sm-153 standardization was determined to be 0.4%.
• The measured probability per decay for the 103.2-keV gamma ray is 0.298 ± 0.004.
• The half-life of Sm-153 was found to be 46.27 ± 0.02 hours.

Conclusions:

• The study provides highly accurate metrological data for Samarium-153.
• These precise values enhance the reliability of Sm-153 in nuclear applications and research.
• The reported uncertainties are based on comprehensive analysis of random and non-random components.