<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Measurements of α-particle sources require corrections to the counting rate due to scattering and self-absorption in the source and the backing material. In this study, we describe a simple procedure to estimate these corrections using the new Monte Carlo code AlfaMC to consider the effects of scattering and self-absorption conjointly, and so to determine the activity of α emitters. The procedure proposed was applied to 235UO2 sources deposited on highly polished platinum backings. In general, the dependence of the efficiency with source thickness was in good agreement with a simple model considering a linear and a hyperbolic behavior for thin and thick sources, respectively, although significant deviations from this model were found for very thin sources. For these very thin sources, the Monte Carlo simulation revealed to be as a required method in the primary calibration of α-particle sources. The efficiency results obtained by simulation with AlfaMC were in agreement with available efficiency data. </abstract>

Measurements of α-particle sources require corrections to the counting rate due to scattering and self-absorption in the source and the backing material. In this study, we describe a simple procedure to estimate these corrections using the new Monte Carlo code AlfaMC to consider the effects of scattering and self-absorption conjointly, and so to determine the activity of α emitters. The procedure proposed was applied to 235UO2 sources deposited on highly polished platinum backings. In general, the dependence of the efficiency with source thickness was in good agreement with a simple model considering a linear and a hyperbolic behavior for thin and thick sources, respectively, although significant deviations from this model were found for very thin sources. For these very thin sources, the Monte Carlo simulation revealed to be as a required method in the primary calibration of α-particle sources. The efficiency results obtained by simulation with AlfaMC were in agreement with available efficiency data.

Application of the new Monte Carlo code AlfaMC to the calibration of alpha-particle sources

Departamento de Física, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain, Tel.: +34 924 289 537, Fax: +34 924 289 651

Departamento de Informática y Estadística, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, c/Tulipán s/n, 28933, Móstoles-Madrid, Spain

Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y Automática, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Measurements of α-particle sources require corrections to the counting rate due to scattering and self-absorption in the source and the backing material. In...

Application of the new Monte Carlo code AlfaMC to the calibration of alpha-particle sources

Published Online: Sep 25, 2015

Page range: 651 - 655

Received: Sep 24, 2014

Accepted: May 20, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0113

Keywords
alpha-particle spectrometry · code AlfaMC · Monte Carlo simulation · scattering and self-absorption

© by Miguel Jurado Vargas

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Application of the new Monte Carlo code AlfaMC to the calibration of alpha-particle sources

Published Online: Sep 25, 2015

Page range: 651 - 655

Received: Sep 24, 2014

Accepted: May 20, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0113

Keywordsalpha-particle spectrometry · code AlfaMC · Monte Carlo simulation · scattering and self-absorption

© by Miguel Jurado Vargas

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
alpha-particle spectrometry · code AlfaMC · Monte Carlo simulation · scattering and self-absorption