Activity standardization by means of liquid scintillation counting and determination of the half-life of 89Zr.

A89Zr solution was measured by means of liquid scintillation counting techniques in order to determine the activity concentration. Two methods were used: the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method with 3H as a tracer, and the triple-to-double coincidence ratio method. The counting efficiencies were computed with a stochastic model. The very detailed investigation showed that a few corrections are particularly important: Asymmetries in the photodetector responses as well as the backscattering of high-energy gamma rays must be taken into account. Corresponding corrections have therefore been applied. In addition, a detailed uncertainty analysis was carried out and the uncertainties compared with those determined by other research groups. The activity concentrations obtained from the two methods agree well and a combined result was used to establish calibration factors for ionization chambers, which are important secondary standardization instruments. The ionization chambers were combined with a new high-precision current measurement device to provide outstanding linearity. Measurement data from one chamber were used to determine the half-life, which was found to be T1/2=(78.373 ± 0.023) h.

Half-life determination and comparison of activity standards of 231Pa.

The results of an international comparison of activity measurements of a solution of 231Pa are reported and analysed. Prior to this, no known standardisation of 231Pa by activity measurement had been carried out. The comparison was run in 2017-2018 involving eight laboratories, and returned results with no identifiable inconsistencies between methods or laboratories. The results, including one mass determination, gave a231Pa activity concentration of 41.461(48) kBq g-1 and a231Pa atom concentration of 61.48(23) × 1015 atoms g-1, from which a half-life value of 32 570(130) years was derived.

Determination of the characteristic limits and responses of nuclear track detectors in mixed radon and thoron atmospheres.

Closed nuclear track detectors are widely used for the determination of Rn-222 exposures. There are also partial open systems available, which are specially designed for the determination of the exposure to Rn-220, which is a relevant exposure in special workplaces or in specific regions of the world. This paper presents data and a detail analysis of how to determine the cross-correlation by calibration in pure Rn-222 and pure Rn-220 atm. By these means calibration coefficients for the analysis of real mixed atmospheres can be obtained. The respective decision threshold, detection limit and limits of the confidence interval were determined according to ISO 11929 (ISO 11929:2010, 2010). The exposure of detectors was performed at the radon reference chamber and the thoron progeny chamber of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). The analysis of track response was done at Parc RGM, while the analytical routines were developed in the Leibniz University Hanover, Institute Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz IRS at the working Group AK SIGMA (Arbeitskreis Nachweisgrenzen).

Calibration of commercial radon and thoron monitors at stable activtiy concentrations.

The upcoming revision of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom in the form of the proposed basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionizing radiation (BSS) evokes new challenges for the metrology institutes. In the case of the two radon isotopes, the corresponding public exposure will be part of legal metrology for the first time. Since the levels of activity concentration that are laid down in the draft of the BSS cover the range from 200 Bq/m(3) to 300 Bq/m(3) in general (with an exceptional top level of 1000 Bq/m(3)), new calibration procedures for existing commercial monitors with their limited counting statistic have to be developed. This paper gives an overview how this metrological challenge can be overcome.

A primary standard for activity concentration of 220Rn (thoron) in air.

Due to the short half-life of Rn-220, a primary standard for activity concentration of Rn-220 (thoron) in air (i.e. a homogeneous reference atmosphere consisting of a certified activity in a certified volume) has been considered unachievable in the past. Traceability of Rn-222 reference atmospheres is achievable using radon gas activity standards (Picolo, 1996; Dersch, 1998) and standard volumes, and is an established method (Paul et al., 2002). For the short-lived radionuclide Rn-220 this procedure is not feasible, since no Rn-220 gas activity standard with a reasonable activity can be produced. This leads to a lack of traceability for measurements of Rn-220 activity concentration: only atmospheres monitored by reference instruments (i.e. secondary standards) are available. The new primary standard for the activity concentration of (220)Rn developed by PTB now closes this gap in radon metrology.

The German thoron progeny chamber--concept and application.

Following completion of the project "Generation and characterisation of reference atmospheres of thoron decay products for the calibration of measuring devices for thoron decay products", the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) now operates a thoron progeny chamber in which (220)Rn (thoron), (222)Rn and its progenies can be made available under almost all ambient conditions. This allows all measuring systems to be calibrated under realistic climatic conditions with an accuracy unique worldwide.