Alpha-particle emission probabilities of 231Pa derived from first semiconductor spectrometric measurements

Analysis of a neutron-induced conversion electron spectrum of gadolinium

A 100-nm-thick gadolinium layer deposited on a pixelated silicon sensor was activated in a neutron field to measure the internal conversion electron (ICE) spectrum generated by neutron capture products of ¹⁵⁵Gd and ¹⁵⁷Gd. The experiment was performed at the ISIS neutron and muon facility, using a bespoke version of the HEXITEC spectroscopic imaging camera. Signals originating from internal conversion electrons, Auger electrons, x rays and gamma rays up to 150 keV were identified. The ICE spectrum has an energy resolution of 1.8-1.9 keV at 72 keV and shows peaks from the K, L, M, N+ ICEs of the 79.51 keV and 88.967 keV 2⁺-0⁺ gamma transitions from the first excited states in ¹⁵⁸Gd and ¹⁵⁶Gd, respectively, as well as the K ICEs of the 4⁺-2⁺ transitions at 181.931 keV and 199.213 keV from the respective second excited states. Spectrum analysis was performed using a convolution of a Gaussian with exponential functions at the low and high energy side as the peak shaping function. Relative ICE intensities were derived from the fitted peak areas and compared with internal conversion coefficient (ICC) values calculated from the BrIcc database. Relative to the dominant L shell contribution, the K ICE intensity conforms to BrIcc and the M, N, O+ ICE intensities are somewhat higher than expected.

Radionuclide metrology: confidence in radioactivity measurements

Radionuclides, whether naturally occurring or artificially produced, are readily detected through their particle and photon emissions following nuclear decay. Radioanalytical techniques use the radiation as a looking glass into the composition of materials, thus providing valuable information to various scientific disciplines. Absolute quantification of the measurand often relies on accurate knowledge of nuclear decay data and detector calibrations traceable to the SI units. Behind the scenes of the radioanalytical world, there is a small community of radionuclide metrologists who provide the vital tools to convert detection rates into activity values. They perform highly accurate primary standardisations of activity to establish the SI-derived unit becquerel for the most relevant radionuclides, and demonstrate international equivalence of their standards through key comparisons. The trustworthiness of their metrological work crucially depends on painstaking scrutiny of their methods and the elaboration of comprehensive uncertainty budgets. Through meticulous methodology, rigorous data analysis, performance of reference measurements, technological innovation, education and training, and organisation of proficiency tests, they help the user community to achieve confidence in measurements for policy support, science, and trade. The author dedicates the George Hevesy Medal Award 2020 to the current and previous generations of radionuclide metrologists who have devoted their professional lives to this noble endeavour.

Absolute and relative measurement of the 243Am half-life

The half-life of 243Am has been measured by an absolute and a relative method, i.e. by determining the specific activity of 243Am and the specific activity ratio with 241Am. A mixed 241,243Am reference material was produced and certified for its americium mass content and its isotope amount ratios. The characterisation of the mass content of 243Am was established by isotope dilution mass spectrometry using an 241Am spike, produced from highly enriched 241Pu material. The isotope amount ratios n(241Am)/n(243Am) and n(242mAm)/n(243Am) were measured by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. Activity measurements were performed by alpha-particle counting at a defined solid angle, as well as high-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry. From the 243Am/241Am activity and isotopic amount ratios, a value of 16.988 (24) was derived for the 243Am/241Am half-life ratio. Using a value of 432.6 (6) a for the 241Am half-life, the corresponding 243Am half-life value, 7349 (15) a, is in good agreement with the result obtained from the absolute method, 7342 (14) a. The mean value, 7345 (14) a, agrees well with data from literature and lowers the relative standard uncertainty to 0.2%.