Determination of the gamma emission intensities of ¹¹¹Ag.

A radioactive solution of (111)Ag, standardised by the absolute measurement methods 4π(PC)-γ and 4π(LS)-γ coincidence counting at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), was measured by two independently calibrated HPGe γ spectrometers in order to estimate the γ emission intensities and to determine the absolute intensity, with the aim of improving the currently published values. An absolute intensity value of 6.68 (7)% was obtained for the 342.1 keV γ emission, which is in agreement with previously reported values, but greatly reduces the uncertainty. Additionally, this work proposes a new emission intensity for the 450.0 keV γ emission that has not been previously reported, with an absolute intensity of 0.000482 (12)%. An investigation of the published γ emission intensities shows significant discrepancies that require resolution.

Measurements of (60)Co in massive steel samples exposed to the Hiroshima atomic bomb explosion.

To study discrepancies in retrospective Hiroshima dosimetry, the specific activity of (60)Co in 16 steel samples from Hiroshima was measured using gamma-ray spectrometry in underground laboratories. There is general agreement between these new activity measurements and the specific activities derived from previously calculated dose values on the one hand and former measurements of samples gathered at distances less than 1,000 m from the center of the explosion (< 1,000 m slant range) on the other. It was found that activities at long range (> 1,300 m slant range) were mainly cosmogenically induced. Furthermore, at long range, these results are in disagreement with older measurements whose specific activity values were 10 to 100 times higher than predicted by computer model calculations in DS86 and DS02. As a consequence, the previously reported discrepancy is not confirmed.

Natural radioactivity in winter wheat from organic and conventional agricultural systems.

The distribution of natural radionuclides was studied in winter wheat plants collected from three sites in Belgium during 2004-2007. Activity concentrations of (40)K, (226)Ra, (228)Ra and (228)Th in organically and conventionally grown wheat, and in the corresponding soil samples, were determined using ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry. The observed soil-to-wheat concentration ratios were calculated for the different parts of the wheat plant (root, stem and grain) in the two agricultural systems (organic and conventional). There were large variations in radionuclide activity concentrations between the sites and fields, but no significant difference between conventionally and organically grown wheat plants was observed.

Validation of a method for neutron dosimetry and spectrometry using neutron activation of metal discs.

A technique for neutron dosimetry and spectrometry based on neutron activation of different metal discs has been studied. After exposure to a neutron field, the radionuclides produced in the discs are detected using low-level gamma-ray spectrometry and the neutron spectrum is obtained using a spectrum unfolding technique. In order to validate the method, irradiation was performed in a well-characterised (252)Cf neutron reference field. Furthermore, the detector was used to determine the neutron fluence rate and spectrum at a storage place for MOX nuclear fuel. The results of the two measurements are reported and discussed.

Crystal rounding and the efficiency transfer method in gamma-ray spectrometry.

The effect of failing to properly model the rounding of the crystal edges in the application of the efficiency transfer method to the measurement of environmental samples is investigated for coaxial and thick planar (BeGe) HPGe detectors. It is found that for lower energies proper modelling of the crystal rounding is necessary to achieve the accuracy of the computed efficiency usually required in this type of measurements.

The Sandwich spectrometer for ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry.

The technical details and performance of the newly developed Sandwich spectrometer for ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry are presented. The spectrometer, which consists of two HPGe detectors, an active muon shield and a lead/copper shield with a convenient and rapid opening mechanism, is located in an underground laboratory at a depth of 500 m water equivalent. The data is collected in list mode, which enables off-line data analysis to identify muon-induced events and possible Ge detector crosstalk due to Compton scattering. The background count-rate from 40 to 2700 keV normalised to the mass of the Ge crystals is 220 day(-1)kg(-1).

Search for the radioactivity of 180mTa using an underground HPGe sandwich spectrometer.

The radioactivity of (180m)Ta has never been detected. The present attempt to detect it was carried out using a newly developed HPGe sandwich spectrometer installed 500m water equivalent underground in the HADES laboratory. The sample consisted of 6 discs of tantalum of natural isotopic composition with a total mass of 1500 g and a total mass for (180)Ta of 180 mg. The sample was measured for 68 days and the resulting lower bound for the half-life of (180m)Ta was 2.0 x 10(16)y, which is a factor of 2.8 higher than the previous highest value.

In-vessel activation monitors in JET: progress in modeling.

Activation studies were performed in JET with new in-vessel activation monitors. Though primarily dedicated to R&D in the challenging issue of lost diagnostics for ITER, which is being addressed at JET with several techniques, these monitors provide for both neutron and charged particle fluences. A set of samples with different orientation with respect to the magnetic field is transported inside the torus by means of a manipulator arm (in contrast with the conventional JET activation system with pneumatic transport system). In this case, radionuclides with longer half-life were selected and ultralow background gamma-ray measurements were needed. The irradiation was closer to the plasma and this potentially reduces the neutron scattering problem. This approach could also be of interest for ITER, where the calibration methods have yet to be developed. The MCNP neutron transport model for JET was modified to include the activation probe and so provide calculations to help assess the new data. The neutron induced activity on the samples are well reproduced by the calculations.

A low-level activation technique for monitoring thermonuclear fusion plasma conditions.

Optimisation of the confinement and sustainability of a thermonuclear plasma requires methods to monitor processes in the plasma. In this work three materials were used as activation targets (Ti, MgF2 and a TiVAl compound). They were placed inside the joint European Torus (JET) vacuum chamber. Certain gamma-ray emitting radionuclides (7Be, 54Mn, 56Co, 57Co, 58Co and 46Sc) were measured using ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry in an underground laboratory 1-2 months after activation. They were found to arise from neutron activation of bulk sample material and surface contaminants sputtered from other Tokamak parts. Decision thresholds for some activation products were determined in order to aid in giving upper bounds for the flux of charged particles.

Cascade summing effects in close geometry gamma-ray spectrometry.

Low-level gamma-ray spectrometry, particularly in underground laboratories, is used to measure radioactivity in diverse close geometries, often placing samples directly on the detector which favours strong cascade summing effects. Monte-Carlo modelling of the efficiency is extended to cascade summing effects from complete decay sequences including positron emitting radionuclides. The effect of geometrical uncertainties on the overall uncertainty is presented. The results reinforce the need for radiography of the detector and inclusion of the detector shielding in the model.

The distribution of 210Pb in human bone and its impact on methods for the retrospective estimation of 222Rn exposure from in vivo measurements.

It is possible to estimate radon exposure to man retrospectively by the in vivo measurement of the decay product (210)Pb, which accumulates in the bones. For in vivo methods, knowledge of the distribution of (210)Pb in the skeleton is needed to determine the optimal site for measurement, the skull or the knee. In this study the activity of (210)Pb in a variety of bone samples from 3 individuals have been measured in vitro using underground gamma-ray spectrometry. The individuals were unlikely to have had elevated intakes of Rn. These measurements give baseline data on the bone massic activity of (210)Pb. They show that the massic activity is similar for each of these people and there are similar massic activities of (210)Pb in the skull and the knee of the 2 individuals for which the skull was measured. Additionally for 2 of the individuals trabecular and cortical bone were separated and massic activities were found to be strongly correlated indicating that the (210)Pb is associated with the hydroxyapatite.

Deep underground measurements of 60Co in steel exposed to the Hiroshima atomic bomb explosion.

When using gamma-ray spectrometry performed deep underground, it is possible to measure 60Co activities down to 0.1 mBq in steel samples of some 100 g without any pre-concentration. It is thus still possible to measure 60Co induced by neutrons from the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima in pieces of steel collected at distances up to about 1200 m slant range. The results of non-destructive measurements of eight steel samples are compared with the 1986 Dose Re-Evaluation (DS86) model calculations.