The use of solid angle for alpha detector efficiency in Ra-226 analyses of soil samples

Dirican A., ERDEN P. E., Seferinoglu M., Pomme S.

APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES, vol.70, no.9, pp.2260-2262, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 70 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.02.114
  • Journal Name: APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2260-2262
  • Keywords: Radium-226, Soil, Alpha spectrometry, Solid angle, Detector efficiency, Intercomparison, WATER
  • Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In the frame of proficiency tests organized by IAEA and IRMM, the specific activity concentration of radium-226 in soil has been measured. The BaSO4 co-precipitation technique has been used. Normally, in this method, the detector efficiency of the alpha spectrometer is determined using a Ra-226 source with known activity. As an alternative to using a Ra-226 standard, we calculated the detector efficiency from the relative solid angle subtended by the detector on the soil samples. The accuracy of this method depends on the uncertainty of geometrical properties and the distribution of activity within the source. An uncertainty budget is provided. The method was applied successfully in the intercomparisons. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.