On the stochastic dependence between photomultipliers in the TDCR method

Activity standardization of 60Co and 106Ru/106Rh by means of the TDCR method and the importance of the beta spectrum

Atomic and nuclear data represent an important input for the accuracy of primary activity measurements based on liquid scintillation. In particular, the reliability of β-spectrum computation has been investigated for several years through experimental and theoretical studies providing solid evidence for the need to consider the atomic effects. In the present study, the activity standardization of two β-emitting radionuclides (60Co, 106Ru/106Rh) was carried out by means of the 4πβ-γ coincidence and Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) methods. The comparison between the activity concentrations given by both primary techniques presents new evidence that a better agreement is obtained when the exchange and screening effects are included in the β-spectra implemented in the model of light emission for TDCR measurements. A new development of a stochastic model based on Geant4 simulations for TDCR calculations is also presented.

Improved activity standardization of 90Sr/90Y by means of liquid scintillation counting

Radioactive strontium isotopes play an important role in environmental radioactivity. Reliable activity standards are required in order to validate radioanalytical techniques and related measurements. In this paper, improved methods for the primary activity standardization of ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y based on liquid scintillation counting are presented. To this end, two methods were used: the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing technique with ³H as a tracer and the triple-to-double coincidence ratio method. Non-negligible discrepancies between the two methods were found when applying existing analysis techniques. A detailed study was carried out to identify and eliminate the causes of these discrepancies. Eventually, excellent agreement between the two methods was obtained. This required advanced beta spectrum calculations which were carried out with a specific version of the BetaShape program taking the atomic exchange effect into account. In addition, it was found that the quench-indicating parameters determined in commercial liquid scintillation counters are biased, which can cause significant problems for the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method. The effect depends on the counting rate and can be explained by a superposition of the LS spectra generated by ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y and the external standard source.

On the photomultiplier-tube asymmetry in TDCR systems

The responses of the three photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) in a triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) liquid scintillation (LS) system are often not identical. Such asymmetries can have a significant influence on activity determinations. The problem is often solved by means of a minimization algorithm which can easily be applied when analytical methods are used for the efficiency calculation, as is usually done for pure beta emitters. However, for radionuclides with more complex decay schemes, the counting efficiencies are often calculated with stochastic methods and the computation of the required corrections becomes very challenging. This paper presents a new numerical method to overcome the asymmetry problem for such complex decays and a comprehensive study on ⁵⁵Fe is described in detail. For the measurements, the asymmetry was varied by means of grey filter films which were placed in front of one of the photomultiplier tubes. In the case of the pure electron-capture (EC) radionuclide ⁵⁵Fe, the asymmetry can also be taken into account with a very simple correction which is derived assuming monoenergetic emissions. This work is also of great importance for the planned extension of the International Reference System (SIR) at the BIPM which will be used for international comparisons in radionuclide metrology.

Comparison of digital coincidence modules used at POLATOM and PTB for TDCR and 4πβ(LS)-γ coincidence counters

Activity measurements of ³H, ²⁴¹Am and ⁶⁰Co solutions were performed to compare digital coincidence modules used at PTB and POLATOM for TDCR and 4πβ(LS)-γ coincidence counting. The activities determined with various coincidence modules connected in parallel to the same counter at PTB were found to be consistent. Observed discrepancies caused by differences in the coincidence resolving time did not exceed 0.14%. Accidental coincidences simulated by a frequency generator were registered, and the coincidence resolving time was determined.

Standardization of 68Ge/68Ga using the 4πβ-γ coincidence method based on Cherenkov counting

In the framework of an international BIPM comparison (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures), the activity standardization of ⁶⁸Ge in a solution of ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga in equilibrium provided by NIST was carried out at LNHB. This exercise was organized to meet the growing interest in ⁶⁸Ga as a radiopharmaceutical in nuclear medicine services (e.g. as a surrogate of ¹⁸F for PET imaging). Due to the volatility of germanium, the activity standardization of ⁶⁸Ge was investigated at LNHB by means of 4πβ-γ coincidence counting based on Cherenkov measurements. This technique was applied to take advantage of the Cherenkov threshold (~ 260keV in aqueous solutions) in order to prevent counting from electron-capture events associated with ⁶⁸Ge disintegrations. Cherenkov counting was performed using glass and polyethylene vials and the resulting activity concentrations were compared with 4πβ-γ coincidence measurements based on liquid scintillation. The efficiency-extrapolation curve obtained with Cherenkov measurements in glass vials was compared to Monte Carlo simulations based on the Geant4 code.

Comparison of tritiated-water standards by liquid scintillation for calibration of a new Standard Reference Material®

A new National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) tritiated-water ((3)H-labeled oxidane) standard was prepared and calibrated. It is the 17th in a series of linked standards since 1954 and will be disseminated as Standard Reference Material® SRM 4927G, having a massic activity of 544.2kBqg(-1), with an expanded (k=2) relative standard uncertainty of 0.96%, at a Reference Time of 1200 EST, 1 May 2015. The calibration is based on relative liquid scintillation (LS) measurements using quench-varied efficiency tracing with two previous 1999 issues, viz., SRM 4927F and 4926E. Measurement comparisons were also made with respect to a 1994 tritiated-water French national standard and to a tritiated-water solution measured by 19 laboratories as part of an international measurement comparison organized by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in 2009. Confirmatory measurements for the massic activity of both SRM 4927F and 4927G by a triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) technique were also made.

Calculation of extrapolation curves in the 4π(LS)β-γ coincidence technique with the Monte Carlo code Geant4

At LNE-LNHB, a liquid scintillation (LS) detection setup designed for Triple to Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) measurements is also used in the β-channel of a 4π(LS)β-γ coincidence system. This LS counter based on 3 photomultipliers was first modeled using the Monte Carlo code Geant4 to enable the simulation of optical photons produced by scintillation and Cerenkov effects. This stochastic modeling was especially designed for the calculation of double and triple coincidences between photomultipliers in TDCR measurements. In the present paper, this TDCR-Geant4 model is extended to 4π(LS)β-γ coincidence counting to enable the simulation of the efficiency-extrapolation technique by the addition of a γ-channel. This simulation tool aims at the prediction of systematic biases in activity determination due to eventual non-linearity of efficiency-extrapolation curves. First results are described in the case of the standardization (59)Fe. The variation of the γ-efficiency in the β-channel due to the Cerenkov emission is investigated in the case of the activity measurements of (54)Mn. The problem of the non-linearity between β-efficiencies is featured in the case of the efficiency tracing technique for the activity measurements of (14)C using (60)Co as a tracer.

A Review of NIST Primary Activity Standards for (18)F: 1982 to 2013

The new NIST activity standardization for (18)F, described in 2014 in Applied Radiation and Isotopes (v. 85, p. 77), differs from results obtained between 1998 and 2008 by 4 %. The new results are considered to be very reliable; they are based on a battery of robust primary measurement techniques and bring the NIST standard into accord with other national metrology institutes. This paper reviews all ten (18)F activity standardizations performed at NIST from 1982 to 2013, with a focus on experimental variables that might account for discrepancies. We have identified many possible sources of measurement bias and eliminated most of them, but we have not adequately accounted for the 1998-2008 results.

First TDCR measurements at low energies using a miniature x-ray tube

Developed for radionuclide standardization using liquid scintillation, the Triple to Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) method is applied using coincidence counting obtained with a specific three-photomultiplier system. For activity determination, a statistical model of light emission is classically used to establish a relation between the detection efficiency and the experimental TDCR value. At LNE-LNHB, a stochastic approach of the TDCR modeling was developed using the Monte Carlo code Geant4. The interest of this TDCR-Geant4 model is the possibility to simulate the propagation of optical photons from their creation in the scintillation vial to the production of photoelectrons in photomultipliers. As an alternative to the use of radionuclide sources, first TDCR measurements are presented using a miniature x-ray tube closely coupled to the scintillation vial. The objective of this new set-up was to enable low-energy depositions (lower than 20 keV) in liquid scintillator in order to study the influence of both time and geometrical dependence between PMTs already observed with radioactive sources. As for the statistical TDCR model, the non-linearity of light emission is implemented in the TDCR-Geant4 model using the Birks formula which depends on the kB factor and the scintillation yield. Measurements performed with the x-ray tube are extended to the assessment of these parameters and they are tested afterwards in the TDCR-Geant4 model for activity measurements of (3)H.

Bilateral comparison between PTB and ENEA to check the performance of a commercial TDCR system for activity measurements

The only commercial TDCR counter from Hidex Oy (Finland), comprising three photomultiplier tubes, was tested at the two National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) PTB and ENEA. To this end, the two NMIs purchased a Hidex 300 SL TDCR counter (METRO version) each and carried out various tests at their laboratories. In addition, the two institutions agreed to organize a bilateral comparison in order to acquire information on the reproducibility of the results obtained with the counters. To achieve this, PTB prepared some (89)Sr liquid scintillation samples, which were first measured in various counters at PTB and then shipped to ENEA for comparative measurements. The aim of this paper is to summarize the findings on the counter characteristics and adjustments. In addition, the results of the bilateral comparison between PTB and ENEA are presented and the results from various commercial counters using the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing and the TDCR method are discussed.

Measurement of wavelength-dependent refractive indices of liquid scintillation cocktails

Refractive indices of several commercial liquid scintillation cocktails were measured by means of an automatic critical-angle dispersion refractometer in the wavelength range from 404.7 nm to 706.5 nm. The results are needed for various applications. In particular, detailed Monte Carlo simulations of liquid scintillation counters that include the computation of optical light require these data. In addition, the refractive index is an important parameter for studies of micelle sizes by means of dynamic light scattering. In this work, the refractive indices were determined for Ultima Gold™, Ultima Gold™ F, Ultima Gold™ LLT, Ultima Gold™ AB, Hionic Fluor™, Permafluor(®)E+, Mineral Oil Scintillator, Insta-Gel Plus, OptiPhase HiSafe 2, OptiPhase HiSafe 3, Ultima Gold™ XR, Insta-Gel Plus, AquaLight, MaxiLight and Ultima Gold™ MV at 16°C, 18°C, 20°C and 22°C. The carbon dioxide absorber Carbo-Sorb(®)E was also analyzed. For some scintillators, various batches were compared and mixtures with water or nitromethane were studied.