Primary standardization and determination of gamma ray emission intensities of Ho-166.

The procedure followed by the Nuclear Metrology Laboratory (LMN) at the IPEN-CNEN/SP, in São Paulo, for the primary standardization of 166Ho is described. The activity of 166Ho was determined by the efficiency extrapolation technique applied to a 4πß(PC)-γ coincidence system using a gas flow proportional counter in 4π geometry coupled to a 76 × 76 mm NaI(Tl) crystal. The results for the γ-rays intensities at 80.57 and 1379.45 keV were 0.0651(11) and 0.00904(11), respectively.

Determination of k0 and Q0 for 74Se, 113In, 186W and 191Ir targets applying covariance analysis.

In the present work, the determinations of k0 and Q0 for 74Se, 113In, 186W and 191Ir targets were performed. The irradiations were conducted near the core of the IEA-R1 4.5 MW swimming-pool nuclear research reactor of the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN/SP - Nuclear and Energy Research Institute), in São Paulo, Brazil. The irradiation position was chosen where the neutron spectrum shape parameter α is very close to zero. For this reason, the correction to be applied for the determination of Q0 is very close to one, thus improving the accuracy of the results. For each experiment, two irradiations were carried out in sequence: the first one with bare samples and the second with a cadmium cover around the samples. All partial uncertainties were considered, applying the covariance matrix methodology. The final results were compared with the literature.

Disintegration rate and gamma-ray emission probability per decay measurement of Cu-64.

The procedure followed by the Nuclear Metrology Laboratory (LMN) at the IPEN for the standardization of activity of 64Cu is described. The measurement was carried out in a 4π (PC) ß-γ coincidence system. The activity per unit mass of the solution was determined by the extrapolation technique. The events were registered using a Time to Amplitude Converter (TAC) associated with a Multi-channel Analyzer. The gamma-ray emission probability per decay of the 1345.7keV transition of 64Cu determined with a calibrated REGe gamma-ray spectrometer was (0.472 ± 0.010) %, in agreement with the literature.

Standardization of (59)Fe by 4π(PC)ß-γ software coincidence system.

The procedure for the standardization of (59)Fe using a 4π(PC)ß-γ software coincidence system is described. The standardization was performed with an experimental setup consisting of a thin window gas-flow proportional counter (PC) in 4π geometry coupled to a NaI(Tl) scintillator and to a HPGe detector. The data acquisition was carried out by means of a Software Coincidence System (SCS). The beta efficiency was changed by using Collodion films and aluminum foils as external absorbers.

Results of an international comparison for the activity measurement of 177Lu.

An international Key Comparison of (177)Lu has recently been carried out. Twelve laboratories performed assays for radioactivity content on aliquots of a common master solution of (177)Lu, leading to eleven results submitted for entry into the Key Comparison Database of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement. A proposed Comparison Reference Value (CRV) was calculated to be 3.288(4)MBq/g using all eleven results. Degrees of equivalence and their uncertainties were calculated for each laboratory based on the CRV. Most of the values reported by the participating laboratories were within 0.6% of the CRV.

Disintegration rate and gamma ray emission probability per decay measurement of 123I.

A series of (123)I measurements have been carried out in a 4π(e(A),X)-γ coincidence system. The experimental extrapolation curve was determined and compared to Monte Carlo simulation, performed by code ESQUEMA. From the slope of the experimental curve, the total conversion coefficient for the 159 keV total gamma transition, α(159), was determined. All radioactive sources were also measured in an HPGe spectrometry system, in order to determine the gamma-ray emission probability per decay for several gamma transitions. All uncertainties involved and their correlations were analyzed applying the covariance matrix methodology and the measured parameters were compared with those from the literature.

Measurements of k0 and Q0 values for 64Zn(n,γ)65Zn and 68Zn(n,γ)69mZn reactions with covariance analysis.

The values of k(0) and Q(0) for (64)Zn(n,γ)(65)Zn and (68)Zn(n,γ)(69m)Zn reactions were determined experimentally. The irradiations were performed near the core of the IEA-R1 3.5MW nuclear research reactor of the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute - IPEN-CNEN/SP, in São Paulo, Brazil. The results for the neutron field parameters f and α were 49.7(19) and -1.1(31)×10(-3), respectively. The resulting values of k(0) and Q(0) for (64)Zn(n,γ)(65)Zn reaction were 5.63(8)×10(-3) and 1.69(6), respectively, and the corresponding values for (68)Zn(n,γ)(69m)Zn reaction were 4.00(6)×10(-4) and 2.34(4), respectively. These results were compared with the literature.

Uranium content and dose assessment for sediment and soil samples from the estuarine system of Santos and Sao Vicente, SP, Brazil.

In this work, the uranium (U) content in sediment and soil samples collected near the Santos and São Vicente estuaries was determined using the fission track registration technique (SSNTD). The sediment and soil samples after oven-dried and pulverised were prepared in the solution form. About 10 microl of this solution was deposited on a plastic detector and irradiated at the IPEN-IEA-R1 (3.5 MW) nuclear reactor. After the irradiation and chemical etching of the plastic foils, the fission tracks were counted with a system consisting of an optical microscope together with a video camera and a PC. The U content in the analysed samples ranged from 3.12 +/- 0.55 to 18.3 +/- 1.2 ppm for sediments and from 3.21 +/- 0.63 to 11.5 +/- 1.1 ppm for soils or in terms of (238)U equivalent activity from 38.5 +/- 6.8 to 226 +/- 15 and 39.6 +/- 7.8 to 142 +/- 14 Bq kg(-1) for sediments and soils, respectively. These results were compared with other values reported in the literature for sediments and soils collected in environments similar to the ones studied in this work. Most of the values obtained in this work are higher than the world mean and are in reasonable agreement with results found by other authors for sediments and soils from regions considered as polluted or with a high level of radioactivity.

Determination of 198Au X-rays emission probabilities.

This work describes the measurements of the K X-ray and gamma-ray emission probabilities per decay of (198)Au performed at the Nuclear Metrology Laboratory (LMN) at the IPEN, São Paulo. The radioactive sample was obtained by means of (197)Au(n, gamma)(198)Au reaction irradiating an Au foil in a thermal neutron flux near the core of the IPEN 3.5 MW research reactor. The activity of samples was determined in a 4pibeta-gamma coincidence system, setting the gamma window at the 411.80 keV total energy absorption peak. The same samples were measured in two different spectrometers: a HPGe planar spectrometer with Be window, suitable for measurements in the low energy range and a coaxial REGe spectrometer. Both spectrometers were previously calibrated in a well defined geometry by means of standard sources calibrated in a 4pibeta-gamma coincidence system. MCNP4C Monte Carlo code was used for simulating the REGe spectrometer calibration curve, and a new version of code ESQUEMA was adopted for simulating the detection processes in the coincidence system, in order to predict the efficiency extrapolation curve.

Standardization of (55)Fe by tracing method.

This work describes the procedure followed by the Laboratório de Metrologia Nuclear (LMN) for the standardization of (55)Fe by the tracing method. This technique was applied using two radionuclides, which decay by the electron capture process followed by a prompt gamma-ray, namely (51)Cr and (54)Mn, as tracers. The calibration was performed in a 4pibeta-gamma coincidence system. The efficiency was obtained by selecting a gamma-ray window set at the 320keV total absorption peak for (51)Cr and at 834keV for (54)Mn.