Measurement of the response-ratio of an ionization chamber filled with dry air to that filled with P-10 gas in the calibration of gas monitors.

We developed a new method to determine the response ratio of an ionization chamber (Ohkura ionization chamber: type I-4096 01/06) filled with dry air to that filled with P-10 gas. The response-ratio was obtained by comparing the output currents of the ionization chamber after introduction of radioactive gasses of identical activities contained in two small vessels. The obtained ratio was 0.690 ± 0.003, which agreed with the results obtained by other methods.

Effect of time walk in the use of single channel analyzer/discriminator for saturated pulses in the 4πß-γ coincidence experiments.

Using the TAC technique, the timing properties of a 4πß-γ coincidence counting system were experimentally studied with an emphasis on saturated pulses. Experiments were performed for several discriminators (integral mode of TSCA) each with different kinds of timing techniques. Timing spectra were measured at various applied voltage to the 4π proportional detector covering the entire region of the plateau. Most of timing discriminators show good timing property when the pulses remain the linear region, but suddenly deteriorate after the pulses was saturated, and the timing spectra expands seriously up to a few µs in some types of timing discriminator. To overcome this problem, two techniques were proposed.

Improvements of the standardization of (134)Cs by the critical window setting for 605keV photopeak.

In the standardization of (134)Cs by the 4πß-γ coincidence method with a γ-window at 605keV, the satellite components of 563keV and 569keV overlapping the 605keV peak cause a steep slope and non-linearity of the efficiency extrapolation function. By shifting the lower threshold of a γ-window higher, the satellite components are eliminated, and the slope tends to horizontal. Nearly flat efficiency curves were obtained by using a CeBr3 scintillator for detecting γ-photons, as well as a NaI(Tl) scintillator.

Observation of X-ray and Auger electron spectra in a 4π proportional counter for 4π(e, X)-γ coincidence measurements.

For the standardization of electron capture nuclides followed by γ-transitions, the 4π(e, X)-γ coincidence counting method is mainly adopted. To examine how the spectra of the (e, X) channel change with gas nature and pressure, pulse-height spectrum measurements of signals from a 4π pressurized proportional counter were carried out under various conditions for (54)Mn and (88)Y sources together with 4π(e, X)-γ coincidence counting. The spectra were measured for each half of the counter and for the combined 4π signal. The nature of counting gas (P-10 or methane) and its pressure was reflected in the X-ray peak intensity, and the Auger electron spectra were influenced significantly by the absorption in a thin VYNS film and the source conditions. In the measurements, we employed a pill-box type 4π counter in which the anodes were very thin gold-coated tungsten wires (30 µm ∅). In this system, spectra down to 0. 2 keV were clearly seen. The gas pressure can be raised up to 0.6 MPa. Counting electronics used for 4π(e, X)-γ coincidence measurements were conventional modules and a list mode two-parameter data acquisition system.

Estimation of immediate fallout after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by using HPGe detector and EGS5 code.

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, we managed to carry out emergency measurements of the radioactive fallout. The included nuclides were identified via gamma-ray spectrometry using an HPGe detector. Quantifications of each radionuclide in the fallout were determined based on the efficiency calibrations and relevant corrections. The collected samples had a variety of shapes, densities, and compositions. EGS5 Monte Carlo code was used for the flexible estimation of these parameters. The measurement results show the temporal changes in the fallout quantity about a month after the accident.

Performance test and quality control of large area reference sources fabricated by the ink-jet printing technique.

Quantitative performance tests and evaluations were carried out for large area reference sources fabricated by the ink-jet printing technique developed by NMIJ/AIST. The present tests were performed quantitatively with emphasis on uniformity, surface emission rate and long-term stability. Some techniques to minimize the self-absorption and to control the amount of radioactivity were established. The prototype source fabricated in this study safely satisfies the requirements specified in ISO 8769.

Effects of anisotropic fluences and angular depended spectra of beta-particles in the use of large area reference sources.

Calibrations of instrument efficiency of surface contamination meters are usually made with extended reference sources which are standardized in terms of 2π surface ß-particle emission rates from the source surface including backscattered particles. Extended sources supplied from various metrology institutes or calibration laboratories, but the source-types such as structure, preparation method, backing and covering materials vary between manufacturers. In this work first we show how the calibration results are dependent on the source type. Second, in order to clarify the possible reason of such discrepancy, we examined the isotropy of ß-particle fluences by the use of a proportional counter and also observed the angular dependence of ß-particle spectra by the use of small plastic scintillation spectrometer, where the source mount can rotate relative to the detector window at various obliquities. The discrepancy in the instrument-calibration of surface contamination meters, which are mainly used under the conditions of large source-to-detector geometry, can be explained.

APMP comparison of measurement of surface emission rate of 36Cl large area source (APMP.RI(II)-K2.Cl-36).

An international comparison of measurement of beta particle surface emission rate from a (36)Cl large area source (APMP.RI(II)-S1.Cl-36) was carried out within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Metrology Program (APMP). Participants from APMP were NMIJ (Japan), KRISS (Korea) and INER (Chinese Taipei). Participants from the other RMOs were NIST (United States), PTB (Germany), NMISA (South Africa) and VNIIM (Russia). All the results of the participants agreed within ±1%. This was the first international comparison of measurement of surface emission rate of beta particle from a large area source.

Measurement of anisotropic angular distributions of photon energy spectra for I-125 brachytherapy sources.

The angular distribution of photon energy spectra emitted from an I-125 brachytherapy source was measured using a specially designed jig in the range of ±70° in the plane of the long axis of the source. It is important to investigate the angular dependence of photon emissions from these sources for the calibration of the air kerma rate. The results show that the influence of the distributions between 0° and ±8° is small enough to allow a calibration using current primary instruments which have a large entrance window.

Activity measurement of 85Kr diluted by a large volume balloon technique.

The National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) participated in the CCRI(II) Key-comparison of (85)Kr activity measurement. The absolute internal gas-counting method was used, with a set of proportional counters of different length. The original (85)Kr gas was diluted by a factor of 2x10(5) in order to achieve the suitable activity concentration for the proportional counters. A new dilution method was introduced, based on a large-volume balloon and gravimetric determination of the dilution volume with small uncertainties.

Calibration of (55)Fe activity with a lithium-drifted silicon detector.

NMIJ participated in the CCRI (II) key comparison of (55)Fe activity measurement. A planar-type Si(Li) detector and a liquid-scintillation counter were used to calibrate the activity. The calibration result obtained by the Si(Li) detector agreed with that obtained by the liquid-scintillation counter using the CIEMAT/NIST method within uncertainty. The result was reported to the BIPM in 2006. The activity of (55)Fe was also measured by using a 2pi pressurized proportional counter. The result obtained by the 2pi pressurized proportional counter agreed with the above results within uncertainty. The measurement by the Si(Li) detector was very simple and its procedure was a combination of conventional methods. The measurement by the liquid-scintillation counter is most popular to calibrate the activity of (55)Fe. However the Si(Li) detector is also useful.

Standardization of 152Eu and 154Eu by 4pibeta-4pigamma coincidence method and 4pi(beta+gamma) integral counting.

The 4pibeta-4pigamma coincidence counting and 4pi(beta+gamma) integral counting techniques were applied for the standardization of 152Eu and 154Eu. In these techniques, the beta-detector is composed of two thin plastic scintillators sandwiching the source coupled with a slender photomultiplier tube. This beta-detector was inserted into a large well-type NaI(Tl) scintillation detector for gamma-ray detection, making a 4pibeta-4pigamma detector configuration. The results obtained by the above two techniques were in good agreement and consistent with the results of international comparisons.

Response calculation for standard ionization chambers in the APMP using EGS4 Monte Carlo code.

In the APMP radioactivity group (TCRI), a series of intercomparisons were conducted between member laboratories, with the aim to improve the calibration of ionization chambers used as secondary standards for radioactivity measurement. Several sources were sent to the participating institutes and the measurement results of calibration factors have been compared. Good agreement between laboratories was found for radioisotopes where the major contribution to the ionization current stems from high-energy gamma rays. It was expected in this energy region that these ratios would become unity for any type of chamber by normalizing with the same type of reference sources. However, where the dominating contribution to the measured ionization current is due to the presence of low-energy gamma rays, there were some serious discrepancies between participating institutes. In order to understand these differences, Monte Carlo simulation has been utilized by studying the effects of changing the wall thickness of the re-entrant well, the materials of the sample holder and the composition of the ionizing gas.

Absolute radioactivity measurements by the use of a 4pibeta-4pigamma detector configuration.

The radioactivity of 60Co and 134Cs sources were measured using a 4pibeta-4pigamma detector configuration with a well-type NaI(Tl) crystal and a sandwich type 4pibeta detector composed of two sheets of NE102A plastic scintillator coupled to a slender photomultiplier tube. The beta-detector was inserted into the well of the gamma-detector. Since counting efficiencies in both the beta- and gamma-channels can be kept high, excellent counting statistics were attainable even when weak sources were measured. This configuration can also be used for radioactivity measurements based upon the direct integral counting of 4pibeta + 4pigamma logic sum signals, and two independent results can be obtained for every measurement. This technique is especially useful for the standardization of complex decaying nuclides.

The new fabrication method of standard surface sources.

We developed a new fabrication method for standard surface sources by using an inkjet printer with inks in which a radioactive material is mixed to print on a sheet of paper. Three printed test patterns have been prepared: (1) 100mm x 100mm uniformity-test patterns, (2) positional-resolution test patterns with different widths and intervals of straight lines, and (3) logarithmic intensity test patterns with different radioactive intensities. The results revealed that the fabricated standard surface sources had high uniformity, high positional resolution, arbitrary shapes and a broad intensity range.

Determination of the emission probabilities of the principal gamma-rays for 134Cs to a high precision.

While multi-gamma-ray emitting nuclides such as 75Se, 134Cs and 152Eu have reasonably well-defined decay scheme, some inconsistencies still remain. Detailed evaluations and weighted-mean analyses result in the recommendation of gamma-ray emission probabilities with small uncertainties, although significant deviations exist in the measured values. Therefore, the gamma-ray emission probabilities of 134Cs have been measured to a high precision after an extremely accurate calibration of detection efficiency. The resulting data agree extremely well with the evaluated values in IAEA-TECDOC-619 (IAEA, X-ray and gamma-ray standards for detector calibration, IAEA-TECDOC-619, IAEA, Vienna, 1991).

Results from APMP comparisons on radioactivity measurements of 58Co, 88Y and 166mHo.

International comparisons on radioactivity measurements of 55Co, 88Y and 166mHo were carried out within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Metrology Programme. Radioactive sources were also sent to the International Reference System (SIR) at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in order to link the results of these regional comparisons to the BIPM key comparison-reference values. The arithmetic mean for the activity results of 166mHo was in good agreement with the SIR reference value, but some disagreements were found for 58Co and 88Y results. The mean values for 58Co and 88Y were both higher than the existing SIR values by about 1.5% and 0.9%, respectively. Although there were some disagreements, it was successfully demonstrated that these regional comparisons could be linked to other international key comparisons through the SIR. The present results were also evaluated to estimate a reasonable uncertainty level for each laboratory, which is very important in the establishment of an adequate traceability scheme for radioactivity standards.