Biomedical subjects

G Sibbens

Publications and source records attributed to G Sibbens.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Half-life measurement of 55Fe.

The half-life of 55Fe was determined experimentally and compared with literature values. A solid 55Fe source was prepared by electrodeposition and repeatedly measured in an X-ray detector at a constant, low solid angle. In total, more than six hundred measurements were performed over a period of ten months, corresponding to one third of the half-life. The experimental method and the corresponding uncertainty budget are presented. The result of 1005.2+/-1.4 days is slightly higher than the current recommended values.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

EC intercomparisons for laboratories monitoring environmental radioactivity.

International measurement comparisons are organised regularly for EU laboratories involved in monitoring radioactivity, with emphasis on meeting routine measurement conditions. Using the recent comparison of 137Cs in air filters as an example, the whole cycle is described: establishment of traceable reference values, spiking of individual filters for the comparison and their quality assurance, treatment and measurement of filters in the participating laboratories and evaluation of comparison results. The treatment of an individual result, deviating widely from the reference value, is discussed. Monte-Carlo simulations allow to estimate the maximum errors possibly made due to a non-suitable measurement geometry.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗

PubMed2000

Improvements in quantitative source preparation

Quantitative source preparation is indispensable for radionuclide standardisation. To improve the source quality, a device has been developed to accelerate the evaporation of solvents from a drop deposited on a substrate. Short drying times were reached by stirring the rotating drop with multiple jets of dry nitrogen at elevated temperature. Uniform deposits with a large number of small crystals were obtained. The source-quality was checked by micrographs and scans of autoradiographs and by the shape parameters of alpha-particle spectra.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Determination of the absolute alpha-particle emission probabilities of 237Np

In the framework of the EUROMET project No. 416, decay scheme data of 237Np were measured by alpha-particle spectrometry. Emission probabilities of alpha-particles and gamma-rays were determined in the past at IRMM. After improvements of the detector system and the electron bending magnet the alpha-particle measurements have been repeated. As a result, the absolute emission probabilities of 20 alpha-particle transitions were obtained with a significant lower uncertainty. Among those transitions already known, five new were found.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Standardisation of 204Tl at IRMM

IRMM participated in a recent international comparison for the standardisation of a 204Tl solution organised by BIPM. The activity concentration of the 204Tl solution was measured at IRMM using 3 independent methods; Liquid Scintillation Counting using the CIEMAT/NIST method, 4pi-CsI counting and 4pibeta counting using a large pressurised proportional counter. This article describes the measurements in detail and discusses potential problems in the standardisation of 204Tl.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Concept for an off-line gain stabilisation method.

Conceptual ideas are presented for an off-line gain stabilisation method for spectrometry, in particular for alpha-particle spectrometry at low count rate. The method involves list mode storage of individual energy and time stamp data pairs. The 'Stieltjes integral' of measured spectra with respect to a reference spectrum is proposed as an indicator for gain instability. 'Exponentially moving averages' of the latter show the gain shift as a function of time. With this information, the data are relocated stochastically on a point-by-point basis.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Study of alpha-particle emission probabilities and energies in the decay of 240Pu.

In the frame of EUROMET Project No 325 "Analysis of Plutonium Alpha-Particle Spectra", the isotopic composition of a 238, 239, 240Pu mixture was measured by mass spectrometry and by high-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry. The latter revealed a discrepancy with published data of the alpha-particle emission probabilities (Palpha) and the energies (Ealpha) of the two major peaks of 240Pu. New values have been derived: Palpha1 = 0.7256 (6), Palpha2 = 0.2735 (7) and Ealpha1 = 5168.54 (14)keV, Ealpha2 = 5124.10 (15)keV, relative to reference peaks of 238Pu and 239Pu.

Alpha Particles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental verification of the half-life of 65Zn.

The half-life of 65Zn was determined experimentally and compared with literature values. Two ampoules of a 65Zn solution were measured at regular intervals in two ionisation chambers over a period corresponding to nearly two half-lives. The result of 243.8+/-0.3 days is in agreement with the value of 244.0+/-0.2 days obtained by De Roost et al. (Z. Phys. 250 (1975) 395) at the same institute (previously called CBNM) in 1972. Moreover, this half-life is supported by most of the other measurements reported in the literature.

Belgium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterisation of reference materials for radioactivity with assigned values traceable to the SI units.

The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements participates in an IAEA co-ordinated project to upgrade Analytical Quality Control Services intercomparison materials to reference materials. The principal objective is to ensure that assigned property values are traceable to the International System of Units. General principles and practical mechanisms for achieving this traceability are described.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Standardisation of low-activity actinide solutions by alpha-particle counting at a defined solid angle.

In the frame of an IAEA co-ordinated research project 232U, 236Pu and 229Th tracers were standardised by alpha-particle counting at a defined solid angle. The aim of this project was to assign property values that are traceable to the International System of Units (SI). This article depicts the standardisation of the tracers, elaborating on problems related to low activity and interference from daughter nuclides. The activity concentrations of 232U, 236Pu and 229Th were found to be, respectively (734+/-4), (142.0+/-0.9) and (528.2+/-2.6) Bq g(-1), at reference date (1 January 2003).

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aspects of sample preparation for the determination of actinoids in soil.

In the frame of the re-certification measurements of the IAEA-375 soil reference material the activity concentration of four actinoids (U, Th, Pu and Am) was determined. The method is based on microwave digestion or aqua regia leaching, separation by extraction chromatography and alpha-particle counting source preparation by co-precipitation or electro-deposition. This article describes some of the problems encountered during the validation of the sample preparation method and their solutions.

Actinoid Series Elements↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-absorption correction in standardisation of 204Tl.

In the frame of the CCRI(II) (Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation at the BIPM) working group on 204Tl, dedicated to investigate the problem and explain the reasons for the discrepancy between methods in standardisation of 204Tl, IRMM was assigned the task of studying the influence of self-absorption in solid sources of 204Tl. This was investigated by measuring the activity of quantitative solid sources of different carrier content, prepared by employing a special source drying technique, developed at IRMM. The activity of the solid sources was determined using a 4pi pressurised proportional counter. The self-absorption was calculated using the activity determined from liquid scintillation spectrometry, unaffected by self-absorption, as the reference value. After correction for foil absorption and non-detected X-rays, the self-absorption showed a linear relation to the logarithm of the dry mass of the source. For a typical source, the self-absorption correction for 204Tl was found to be as high as 8%. This article describes a way to minimise and correct for self-absorption in solid sources of 204Tl or nuclides with similar decay properties.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Standardization and decay data of 237Np.

This paper reports contributions from participants in the EUROMET project (No. 416) which was entitled "237Np research into problems relating to purification, characterization and standardization". Primary standardizations were made by the defined low solid angle, coincidence, 4pi alpha, 2pi alpha and liquid scintillation counting methods. Secondary standardizations were made with calibrated gamma-ray spectrometers. Absolute X-ray, gamma-ray and alpha-particle emission probabilities were also determined. The results for the successful conclusion of both primary and secondary standardization are presented together with the values for alpha-particle and gamma-ray emission probabilities determined in this exercise. Several significant inconsistencies remain with the gamma-ray emission probabilities, and these are highlighted.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Standardisation of 89Sr using three different methods.

Three independent methods were used to standardise a 89Sr solution within the frame of an international comparison organised by BIPM/CCRI(II): 4pi liquid scintillation (LS) spectrometry, based on the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method, and direct activity measurements with a windowless 4pi CsI(Tl)-sandwich spectrometer and a 4pi pressurised gas proportional counter. Quantitative solid point-like sources were prepared paying special attention during the source drying phase. The impurities in the original solution were measured and corrected for in the results of all three methods. The activity concentration of 89Sr was found to be 26.21 +/- 0.08 kBq g(-1). A new half-life value for 89Sr of 50.61 +/- 0.05 days was determined from the LS measurements. The measurement methods, including the impurity measurements, are described and the results compared. considering the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Journal Article↗