Non-contact scintillator imaging dosimetry for total body irradiation in radiotherapy.

Objective.The goal of this work was to assess the potential use of non-contact scintillator imaging dosimetry for tracking delivery in total body irradiation (TBI).Approach. Studies were conducted to measure the time-gated light signals caused by radiation exposure to scintillators that were placed on tissue. The purpose was to assess efficacy in conditions common for TBI, such as the large source to surface distance (SSD) commonly used, the reduced dose rate, the inclusion of a plexiglass spoiler, angle of incidence and effects of peripheral patient support structures. Dose validation work was performed on phantoms that mimicked human tissue optical properties and body geometry. For this work, 1.5 cm diameter scintillating disks were developed and affixed to phantoms under various conditions. A time-gated camera synchronized to the linac pulses was used for imaging. Scintillation intensity was quantified in post processing and the values verified with simultaneous thermolumiescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements. Mean scintillation values in each region were compared to TLD measurements to produce dose response curves, and scatter effects from the spoiler and patient bed were quantified.Main results.The dose determined by scintillators placed in TBI conditions agreed with TLD dose determinations to within 2.7%, and did so repeatedly within 1.0% standard deviation variance. A linear fit between scintillator signal and TLD dose was achieved with anR2= 0.996 across several body sites. Scatter from the patient bed resulted in a maximum increase of 19% in dose.Significance.This work suggests that non-contact scintillator imaging dosimetry could be used to verify dose in real time to patients undergoing TBI at the prescribed long SSD and low dose rate. It also has shown that patient transport stretchers can significantly influence surface dose by increasing scatter.

Scintillation and cherenkov photon counting detectors with analog silicon photomultipliers for TOF-PET.

Objective.Standard signal processing approaches for scintillation detectors in positron emission tomography (PET) derive accurate estimates for 511 keV photon time of interaction and energy imparted to the detection media from aggregate characteristics of electronic pulse shapes. The ultimate realization of a scintillation detector for PET is one that provides a unique timestamp and position for each detected scintillation photon. Detectors with these capabilities enable advanced concepts for three-dimensional (3D) position and time of interaction estimation with methods that exploit the spatiotemporal arrival time kinetics of individual scintillation photons.Approach.In this work, we show that taking into consideration the temporal photon emission density of a scintillator, the channel density of an analog silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array, and employing fast electronic readout with digital signal processing, a detector that counts and timestamps scintillation photons can be realized. To demonstrate this approach, a prototype detector was constructed, comprising multichannel electronic readout for a bismuth germanate (BGO) scintillator coupled to an SiPM array.Main Results.In proof-of-concept measurements with this detector, we were able to count and provide unique timestamps for 66% of all optical photons, where the remaining 34% (two-or-more-photon pulses) are also independently counted, but each photon bunch shares a common timestamp. We show this detector concept can implement 3D positioning of 511 keV photon interactions and thereby enable corrections for time of interaction estimators. The detector achieved 17.6% energy resolution at 511 keV and 237 ± 10 ps full-width-at-half-maximum coincidence time resolution (CTR) (fast spectral component) versus a reference detector. We outline the methodology, readout, and approach for achieving this detector capability in first-ever, proof-of-concept measurements for scintillation photon counting detector with analog silicon photomultipliers.Significance.The presented detector concept is a promising design for large area, high sensitivity TOF-PET detector modules that can implement advanced event positioning and time of interaction estimators, which could push state-of-the-art performance.

Simulation of ionization charge carrier cascade time and density for a new radiation detection method based on modulation of optical properties.

BACKGROUND: In time-of-flight PET, image quality and accuracy can be enhanced by improving the annihilation photon pair coincidence time resolution, which is the variation in the arrival time difference between the two annihilation photons emitted from each positron decay in the patient. Recent studies suggest direct detection of ionization tracks and their resulting modulation of optical properties, instead of scintillation, can improve the CTR significantly, potentially down to less than 10 ps CTR. However, the arrival times of the 511 keV photons are not predictable, leading to challenges in the spatiotemporal localization characterization of the induced charge carriers in the detector crystal. PURPOSE: To establish an optimized experimental setup for measuring ionization induced modulation of optical properties, it is critical to develop a versatile simulation algorithm that can handle multiple detector material properties and time-resolved charge carrier dynamics. METHODS: We expanded our previous algorithm and simulated ionization tracks, cascade time and induced charge carrier density over time in different materials. For designing a proof-of-concept experiment, we simulated ultrafast electrons and free-electron x-ray photons for timing characterization along with alpha and beta particles for higher spatial localization. RESULTS: With 3 MeV ultrafast electrons, by reducing detector crystal thickness, we can effectively reduce the ionization cascade time to 0.79 ps and deposited energy to 198.5 keV, which is on the order of the desired 511 keV energy. Alpha source simulations produced a cascade time of 2.45 ps and charge carrier density of 6.39 × 1020 cm-3 . Compared to the previous results obtained from 511 keV photon-induced ionization track simulations, the cascade time displayed similar characteristics, while the charge density was found to be higher. These findings suggest that alpha sources have the potential to generate a stronger ionization-induced signal using the modulation of optical properties as the detection mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: This work provides a guideline to understand, design and optimize an experimental platform that is highly sensitive and temporally precise enough to detect single 511 keV photon interactions with a goal to advance CTR for ToF-PET.

Application of portable liquid scintillation counter for on-field measurement of tritium in aqueous samples during radiation emergency.

Screening of aqueous samples for 3H contamination is required to decide suitability of water intended for human consumption during radiation emergency. BARC, Trombay has recently procured Portable Triathler liquid scintillation counter as a screening tool for on-site response to radiation emergency. For this purpose, parameters like, different available scintillators, scintillator to sample ratio and influence of different capacity scintillation vials were optimized for 3H concentration measurement. The study indicated that for 7 mL vials, the optimized scintillator to sample ratio was 4:1 for Optiphase Hisafe II, Ultima Gold Ultra Low Level Tritium, Aqualight AB and Dioxane based scintillators whereas for Ultima Gold AB and Optiphase Hisafe III scintillators it was 3:1. In case of 20 mL vials, the ratio was optimized to 8:1 for all the above mentioned six scintillators. Additionally, the effect of applying counting efficiency using calibration curves generated using distilled water and that obtained using optimized scintillator to sample ratio in various spiked water samples was also studied. Results in 3H concentration (2000-5700 Bq/mL) indicate about ±10% deviation using both the methods for commercially available scintillators. However, in case of Dioxane based scintillator, the deviation was higher (20%). For analysis of 3H concentration ∼200 Bq/mL using commercially available scintillators results in higher deviation of about 21% due to unreliable quench indicating parameter for count rate less than 4000. The study indicated that calibration curves constructed using optimized parameters are universally applicable for determination of 3H concentration in wide variety of water samples.

Simultaneous determination of 226Ra and 228Ra in food samples using liquid scintillation counting.

The 228Ra and 226Ra isotopes of radium are significant contaminants in food, raising public concern because of their radiotoxicity. Several methods are available for determining 228Ra and 226Ra. However, the application of these procedures is not focused on food but only on water and environmental matrices. In this study, a cost-effective method for the simultaneous determination of 226Ra and 228Ra radioactivity in food samples using liquid scintillation counting was developed. The overall efficiencies of 226Ra and 228Ra in the food samples are 69.4-78.4% and 30.1-35.8%, respectively. The minimum detectable activities of 226Ra and 228Ra are 11.3 mBq/g and 33.4 mBq/g, respectively, in our food sample, obtained using a 1.0 g ash sample and 60 min of counting time. The method was validated using IAEA-certified reference materials and compared with data obtained using gamma spectrometry in tea, kelp, and oyster samples.

Comparison of cell casted and 3D-printed plastic scintillators for dosimetry applications.

Currently, the most used methods of plastic scintillator (PS) manufacturing are cell casting and bulk polymerisation, extrusion, injection molding, whereas digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technique has been recently introduced. For our research, we measured blue-emitting EJ-200, EJ-208, green-emitting EJ-260, EJ-262 cell cast and two types of blue-emitting DLP-printed PSs. The light output of the samples, with the same dimension of 10 mm × 10 mm × 10 mm, was compared. The light output of the samples, relative to the reference EJ-200 cell-cast scintillator, equals about 40-49 and 70-73% for two types of 3D-printed, and two green-emitting cell-casted PSs, respectively. Performance of the investigated scintillators is sufficient to use them in a plastic scintillation dosemeter operating in high fluence gamma radiation fields.

Colored reflectors to improve coincidence timing resolution of BGO-based time-of-flight PET detectors.

Time-of-flight (TOF) positron emission tomography (PET) detectors improve the signal-to-noise ratio of PET images by limiting the position of the generation of two 511 keV gamma-rays in space using the arrival time difference between the two photons. Unfortunately, bismuth germanate (BGO), widely used in conventional PET detectors, was limited as a TOF PET scintillator due to the relatively slow decay time of the scintillation photons. However, prompt Cerenkov light in BGO has been identified in addition to scintillation photons. Using Cerenkov photons for timing has significantly improved the coincidence timing resolution (CTR) of BGO. Based on this, further research on improving the CTR for a BGO-based TOF PET system is being actively conducted. Wrapping materials for BGO pixels have primarily employed white reflectors to most efficiently collect scintillation light. White reflectors have customarily been used as reflectors for BGO pixels even after Cerenkov light began to be utilized for timing calculations in pixel-level experiments. However, when the arrival-time differences of the two 511 keV annihilations photons were measured with pure Cerenkov radiators, painting the lateral sides of the radiators black can improve CTR by suppressing the reflection of Cerenkov photons. The use of BGO for TOF PET detectors requires simultaneously minimizing scintillation loss for good energy information and suppressing reflected Cerenkov photons for better timing performance. Thus, reflectors for BGO pixels should be optimized for better timing and energy performance. In this study, colored polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tapes with discontinuous reflectance values at specific wavelengths were applied as a BGO reflector. We hypothesized that CTR could be enhanced by selectively suppressing reflected Cerenkov photons with an optimum colored reflector on the BGO pixel while minimizing scintillation photon loss. CTRs were investigated utilizing white and three colors (yellow, red, and green) PTFE tapes as a reflector. In addition, black-painted PTFE tape and enhanced specular reflector film were investigated as reference reflector materials. When 3 × 3 × 20 mm3BGO pixels were wrapped with the yellow PTFE reflector, the CTR was significantly improved to 365 ± 5 ps from 403 ± 14 ps measured with the conventional white PTFE reflector. Adequate energy information was still obtained with only 4.1% degradation in light collection compared to the white reflector. Colored reflectors show the possibility to further improve CTR for BGO pixels with optimum reflectance design.

Li2100deplMoO4 Scintillating Bolometers for Rare-Event Search Experiments.

We report on the development of scintillating bolometers based on lithium molybdate crystals that contain molybdenum that has depleted into the double-ß active isotope 100Mo (Li2100deplMoO4). We used two Li2100deplMoO4 cubic samples, each of which consisted of 45-millimeter sides and had a mass of 0.28 kg; these samples were produced following the purification and crystallization protocols developed for double-ß search experiments with 100Mo-enriched Li2MoO4 crystals. Bolometric Ge detectors were utilized to register the scintillation photons that were emitted by the Li2100deplMoO4 crystal scintillators. The measurements were performed in the CROSS cryogenic set-up at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (Spain). We observed that the Li2100deplMoO4 scintillating bolometers were characterized by an excellent spectrometric performance (∼3-6 keV of FWHM at 0.24-2.6 MeV γs), moderate scintillation signal (∼0.3-0.6 keV/MeV scintillation-to-heat energy ratio, depending on the light collection conditions), and high radiopurity (228Th and 226Ra activities are below a few µBq/kg), which is comparable with the best reported results of low-temperature detectors that are based on Li2MoO4 using natural or 100Mo-enriched molybdenum content. The prospects of Li2100deplMoO4 bolometers for use in rare-event search experiments are briefly discussed.

Technical note: Angular dependence in fiber optic dosimetry using YVO4 :Eu3.

BACKGROUND: Fiber optic dosimetry (FOD) has emerged as a useful technique that can be used in those cases when intracavitary, real time, high spatial resolution dose assessment is required. Among the several factors characterizing a dosimeter, angular response of FOD probes has to be assessed in order to consider possible clinical application. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to characterize the angular response of a FOD probe based on a cylindrical shaped YVO4 :Eu3+ scintillator under irradiation with a 6 MV photon beam generated by a linear accelerator (LINAC). METHODS: A FOD probe was irradiated inside a plastic phantom using a 6 MV LINAC photon beam at different azimuthal angles (0° to 360°, 15° steps). Scintillation output was measured with a photomultiplier tube. Similar measurements were performed with a second FOD probe having an optical filter interposed between the scintillator and the fiber. Monte Carlo simulations using PENELOPE were carried out in order to interpret the observed results. RESULTS: The FOD output was symmetrical with respect to the scintillator axis. For the unfiltered probe, the signal was maximum at rear incidence (0°) and steadily decreased down to its minimum value at frontal incidence (180°) having a signal ratio of 37%. The output of the filtered probe showed a plateau from 15° up to 115°. The signal was maximum at 60° and minimum at 180° having a signal ratio of 16%. Monte Carlo simulations predicted symmetry of the deposited dose about 0° and 90°, which contrasts with experimental findings. CONCLUSIONS: Photoluminescence (PL) of the scintillator induced by the Cherenkov light increases the angular dependence. Radiation attenuation inside the scintillator and partial light collection of the scintillation yield by the optical fiber (OF) are responsible for asymmetrical response. Results from this study should be considered in order to minimize angular dependence in FOD.

Timing advances of commercial divalent-ion co-doped LYSO:Ce and SiPMs in sub-100 ps time-of-flight positron emission tomography.

Objective.Together with novel photodetector technologies and emerging electronic front-end designs, scintillator material research is one of the key aspects to obtain ultra-fast timing in time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET). In the late 1990s, Cerium-doped lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO:Ce) has been established as the state-of-the-art PET scintillator due to its fast decay time, high light yield and high stopping power. It has been shown that co-doping with divalent ions, such as Ca2+and Mg2+, is beneficial for its scintillation characteristics and timing performance. Therefore, this work aims to identify a fast scintillation material to combine it with novel photosensor technologies to push the state of the art in TOF-PET.Approach.This study evaluates commercially available LYSO:Ce,Ca and LYSO:Ce,Mg samples manufactured by Taiwan Applied Crystal Co., LTD regarding their rise and decay times as well as their coincidence time resolution (CTR) with both ultra-fast high-frequency (HF) readout and commercially available readout electronics, i.e. the TOFPET2 ASIC.Main results.The co-doped samples exhibit state-of-the-art rise times of on average 60 ps and effective decay times of on average 35 ns. Using the latest technological improvements made on NUV-MT SiPMs by Fondazione Bruno Kessler and Broadcom Inc., a 3 × 3 × 19 mm3LYSO:Ce,Ca crystal achieves a CTR of 95 ps (FWHM) with ultra-fast HF readout and 157 ps (FWHM) with the system-applicable TOFPET2 ASIC. Evaluating the timing limits of the scintillation material, we even show a CTR of 56 ps (FWHM) for small 2 × 2 × 3 mm3pixels. A complete overview of the timing performance obtained with different coatings (Teflon, BaSO4) and different crystal sizes coupled to standard Broadcom AFBR-S4N33C013 SiPMs will be presented and discussed.Significance.This work thoroughly evaluates commercially available co-doped LYSO:Ce crystals and, in combination with novel NUV-MT SiPMs, shows a TOF performance that significantly exceeds the current state of the art.

A proof-of-concept of cross-luminescent metascintillators: testing results on a BGO:BaF2metapixel.

Objective: Time-of-flight positron emission tomography (PET) is the next frontier in improving the effective sensitivity. To achieve superior timing for time-of-flight PET, combined with high detection efficiency and cost-effectiveness, we have studied the applicability of BaF2 in metascintillators driven by the timing of cross-luminescence photon production.Approach: Based on previous simulation studies of energy sharing and analytic multi-exponential scintillation pulse, as well as sensitivity characteristics, we have experimentally tested a pixel of 3 × 3 × 15 mm3 based on 300µm BGO and 300µm BaF2 layers. To harness the deep ultraviolet cross-luminescent light component, which carries improved timing, we use the FBK VUV SiPM. Metascintillator energy sharing is addressed through a double integration approach.Main results: We reach an energy resolution of 22%, comparable to an 18% resolution of simple BGO pixels using the same readout, through the optimized use of the integrals of the metascintillator pulse in energy sharing calculation. We measure the energy sharing extent of each pulse with a resolution of 25% and demonstrate that experimental and simulation results agree well. Based on the energy sharing, a timewalk correction is applied, exhibiting significant improvements for both the coincidence time resolution (CTR) and the shape of the timing histogram. We reach 242 ps CTR for the entire photopeak, while for a subset of 13% of the most shared events, the CTR value improves to 108 ps, comparable to the 3 × 3 × 5 mm3 LYSO:Ce:Ca reference crystal.Significance: While we are considering different ways to improve further these results, this proof-of-concept demonstrates the applicability of cross-luminescence for metascintillator designs through the application of VUV compatible SiPM coupling, and easily implementable digital algorithms. This is the first test of BaF2-based metascintillators of sufficient stoppng power to be included in a PET scanner, demonstrating the industrial applicability of such cross-luminescent metascintillators.

Analysis of a convex time skew calibration for light sharing-based PET detectors.

Objective.Positron emission tomography (PET) detectors providing attractive coincidence time resolutions (CTRs) offer time-of-flight information, resulting in an improved signal-to-noise ratio of the PET image. In applications with photosensor arrays that employ timestampers for individual channels, timestamps typically are not time synchronized, introducing time skews due to different signal pathways. The scintillator topology and transportation of the scintillation light might provoke further skews. If not accounted for these effects, the achievable CTR deteriorates. We studied a convex timing calibration based on a matrix equation. In this work, we extended the calibration concept to arbitrary structures targeting different aspects of the time skews and focusing on optimizing the CTR performance for detector characterization. The radiation source distribution, the stability of the estimations, and the energy dependence of calibration data are subject to the analysis.Approach.A coincidence setup, equipped with a semi-monolithic detector comprising 8 LYSO slabs, each 3.9 mm × 31.9 mm × 19.0 mm, and a one-to-one coupled detector with 8 × 8 LYSO segments of 3.9 mm × 3.9 mm × 19.0 mm volume is used. Both scintillators utilize a dSiPM (DPC3200-22-44, Philips Digital Photon Counting) operated in first photon trigger. The calibration was also conducted with solely one-to-one coupled detectors and extrapolated for a slab-only setup.Main results.All analyzed hyperparameters show a strong influence on the calibration. Using multiple radiation positions improved the skew estimation. The statistical significance of the calibration dataset and the utilized energy window was of great importance. Compared to a one-to-one coupled detector pair achieving CTRs of 224 ps the slab detector configuration reached CTRs down to 222 ps, demonstrating that slabs can compete with a clinically used segmented detector design.Significance.This is the first work that systematically studies the influence of hyperparameters on skew estimation and proposes an extension to arbitrary calibration structures (e.g. scintillator volumes) of a known calibration technique.

Test of a digitizer to process the pulse signal from the 3 photomultiplier tubes of a TDCR liquid scintillation counter.

The BIPM is developing a new service for international key comparisons in radionuclide metrology. The system, called ESIR, is based on a liquid scintillation counter using the Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) technique. The aim is to produce an international reference that can be reproduced over several decades of time in order to compare the calibration capabilities of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs). The maintainability of the electronics performing the signal processing is a challenge. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the electronics, the strategy is to set up redundant systems including at least one digital electronics module. The analogue modules developed in the 1990s and 2000s are less and less maintained and digital electronics are increasingly available on the market. In this context, a digitizer was tested and its suitability for the TDCR measurements compared to the currently used module based on an analogue front-end. This first implementation directly linking the photomultiplier anode to the CAEN digitizer without any analogue preconditioning shows a significant loss of detection efficiency and a lower signal to noise ratio observed on distributions of single photoelectrons. Although the TDCR method can correct for these efficiency losses, the loss of symmetry between the channels is too great to provide a sufficiently robust measurement. The use of low-pass filters upstream of the ADC will be considered to make this digital measurement system more reliable.

A method validation for determining gross alpha-beta activity concentration in water samples using LSC.

Liquid scintillation counter (LSC), with its advanced spectrometry capabilities, the Quantulus 1220™, was used to determine gross α-ß measurements in 25 environmental water samples. The determination of gross α-ß emitters with the LSC method requires an accurate pulse shape analyzer (PSA) setting under various quenching conditions. External quenching parameter values were evaluated with americium and strontium standard solutions to look for the optimal PSA value. A PSA calibration curve was obtained and used to measure real samples. To validate a constructed PSA calibration curve, a test was performed using spiked samples with different standard solutions. The results of the same set of 25 water samples were verified by element specific separations followed by α-spectrometry. An acceptable correlation was obtained between the two techniques. In the case of LSC analysis, the results indicate a good PSA optimization. The method was found to be reliable, effective and very suitable for wide range measuring campaigns.

Primary standardization of 212Pb activity by liquid scintillation counting.

An activity standard for 212Pb in equilibrium with its progeny was realized, based on triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) liquid scintillation (LS) counting. A Monte Carlo-based approach to estimating uncertainties due to nuclear decay data (branching ratios, beta endpoint energies, γ-ray energies, and conversion coefficients for 212Pb and 208Tl) led to combined standard uncertainties ≤ 0.20 %. Confirmatory primary measurements were made by LS efficiency tracing with tritium and 4παß(LS)-γ(NaI(Tl)) anticoincidence counting. The standard is discussed in relation to current approaches to 212Pb activity calibration. In particular, potential biases encountered when using inappropriate radionuclide calibrator settings are discussed.

A semi-monolithic detector providing intrinsic DOI-encoding and sub-200 ps CRT TOF-capabilities for clinical PET applications.

BACKGROUND: Current clinical positron emission tomography (PET) systems utilize detectors where the scintillator typically contains single elements of 3-6-mm width and about 20-mm height. While providing good time-of-flight performance, this design limits the spatial resolution and causes radial astigmatism as the depth-of-interaction (DOI) remains unknown. PURPOSE: We propose an alternative, aiming to combine the advantages of current detectors with the DOI capabilities shown for monolithic concepts, based on semi-monolithic scintillators (slabs). Here, the optical photons spread along one dimension enabling DOI-encoding with a still small readout area beneficial for timing performance. METHODS: An array of eight monolithic LYSO slabs of dimensions 3.9 × 32 × 19 mm3 was read out by a 64-channel photosensor containing digital SiPMs (DPC3200-22-44, Philips Digital Photon Counting). The position estimation in the detector's monolithic and DOI direction was based on a calibration with a fan beam collimator and the machine learning technique gradient tree boosting (GTB). RESULTS: We achieved a positioning performance in terms of mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.44 mm for the monolithic direction and 2.12 mm for DOI considering a wide energy window of 300-700 keV. The energy resolution was determined to be 11.3%, applying a positional-dependent energy calibration. We established both an analytical and machine-learning-based timing calibration approach and applied them for a first-photon trigger. The analytical timing calibration corrects for electronic and optical time skews leading to 240 ps coincidence resolving time (CRT) for a pair of slab-detectors. The CRT was significantly improved by utilizing GTB to predict the time difference based on specific training data and applied on top of the analytical calibration. We achieved 209 ps for the wide energy window and 198 ps for a narrow selection around the photopeak (411-561 keV). To maintain the detector's sensitivity, no filters were applied to the data during processing. CONCLUSION: Overall, the semi-monolithic detector provides attractive performance characteristics. Especially, a good CRT can be achieved while introducing DOI capabilities to the detector, making the concept suitable for clinical PET scanners.

The use of plastic scintillation microspheres in flow scintillation analysis.

This manuscript deals with the possible utilization of plastic microspheres for radiation detection. The aim was to determine the suitability of microspheres for this application, factors that affect detection efficiency, and based on the evaluation of current state technology to design and test a constructional solution suitable for this use. Three detection cell variations and their configurations, which utilize plastic microspheres, were tested for their response to selected militarily important radionuclides during a series of static measurements. Based on the results of static measurements, the most structurally suitable cell variation was subsequently tested for flow scintillation analysis. Among the cells designed for flow scintillation counting in 2π geometry, the highest achieved detection efficiency for 241Am was 13.1 ± 0.7% using Cell #5, for 90Sr/Y was 71.2 ± 3.9% using Cell #10 and for 3H was 3.9 ± 0.2% using Cell #5 respectively. Cell #10 was evaluated to perform universally the best despite achieving slightly lower detection efficiencies for 241Am and 3H than Cell #5, as the results were easily replicable and due to the cell constructional simplicity, its application was problem-free.

YAP:CE SCINTILLATOR APPLICATION FOR 241AM COUNTING IN WOUND INJURY.

YAP:Ce scintillation probe was tested for use in a spectrometric measurement that is necessary to assess the internal dose in case of wound injuries involving radionuclide contaminant. A technique with metal filters published in the past for the determination of a depth of plutonium-contaminated wound was tested to verify the capability of the scintillator to be used for gamma-ray spectrometry counting of 241Am in a wound injury. Scintillation probe equipped with YAP:Ce scintillator showed properties sufficient for the wound counting technique tested.

LONG-TERM AFTERGLOW OF SOLID SCINTILLATORS.

Most of scintillators used for radiation detection exhibit afterglow, which is emission of light with longer decay times than that of main light pulse. High signal from afterglow has usually negative influence on detection parameters, e.g. for energy resolution in spectrometry measurements. The paper deals with long-term afterglow of some types of scintillators, which is more significant in the case of integral measurement when current in the photodetector is measured. The range of studied decay times was in the order of tens of seconds to days. Seven types of scintillators were measured: BGO, CaF2(Eu), CdWO4, CsI(Tl), LiI(Eu), NaI(Tl) and plastic scintillator. Excitation of scintillators was made using a UV lamp. After UV irradiation, a scintillator was inserted to scintillation detection unit and the anode current of photomultiplier tube was measured with a picoammeter. As results, CaF2(Eu) and plastic scintillator have relatively low long-term afterglow signal compared with other measured scintillators.

The dynamics of the detection of 226Ra in water by scintillation counting in nonequilibrium conditions.

The conventional methods for the 226Ra determination by liquid scintillation counting require to attain secular equilibrium between 226Ra and 222Rn prior to the counting. This study describes a method that allows the immediate counting of a sample after the dissolution of Ba(Ra)SO4 in EDTA. This results from a detailed modelling of the activity of the parent 226Ra and its daughters in both the aqueous and organic scintillator phases. This methodology was tested on standard solutions of 226Ra showing promising results.