ICRM ICRM NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER

International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology

Editor : Nelcy Coursol

Issue 16 - March 2002

LABORATOIRE NATIONAL LABORATOIRE NATIONAL HENRI BECQUERELHENRI BECQUEREL

International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology

ICRM

ICRM NEWSLETTER Issue 16

NOT FOR PUBLICATION. This document should neither be quoted as a reference in

publications nor listed in abstract journals, no reference should be made to the information

contained in this Newsletter except with the permission of the author and as a private

communication. Such permission should be sought directly from the contributor and not

through the editor. The ICRM makes no warranty, express or implied or assumes any legal

liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information,

apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately

owned rights.

Editor : Nelcy Coursol BNM-Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (BNM-LNHB) CEA-Saclay 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex France Tel. : + 33 (0)1 69 08 27 78 or 85 67 Fax. : + 33 (0) 1 69 08 26 19 E-mail : nelcy.coursol@cea.fr

March 2002

CONTENTS

Editorial I

Important Note III

Instructions to Contributors V

President’s Message VII

Reports of the Working Group Coordinators X

Contributions XXI

Argentina • Metrologia de Radioisotopos, CNEA (SA1/SA2) 1

Buenos Aires

Australia • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, ANSTO, (SA1/SA2) 4

Lucas Heights

Austria • IAEA Nuclear Data Section 5 Vienna

• Institut für Isotopenforschung und Kernphysik, (SA1/SA2) 6 Vienna

Belgium • Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, IRMM 10 Geel

• Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie, SCK-CEN, (SA1/SA2) 13 Mol

Brazil • Laboratorio Nacional de Metrologia das Radiaçoes Ionizantes, LNMRI/IRD/CNEN, (SA1/SA2) 15

Rio de Janeiro

Czech Republic • Czech Metrological Institute, CMI-IIZ, (SA1/SA2) 17 Prague

France • Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, BIPM 19 Sèvres

• BNM-Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel, LNHB, (SA1/SA2) 23 Gif-sur-Yvette

Germany • Physikalisch - Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB 31 Braunschweig

Hungary • National Office of Measures, OMH 35 Budapest

India • Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, BARC, (SA1/SA2) 36 Mumbai

Italy • Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti, ENEA 38

Casaccia

Japan • Nagoya University 41 Nagoya

• National Metrology Institute of Japan, (NMIJ/AIST) 43 Ibaraki

Poland • Laboratory Radioisotope Centre POLATOM 44 Swierk

Republic of China • National Radiation Standard Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (NRSL/INER) 49

Taiwan

Romania • Institutut National de Fizica si Inginerie Nucleara, INFIN-HH, (SA1/SA2) 50

Bucharest

Russia • Radionuclide Data Centre, V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute 52 St. Petersburg

• D.I.Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM) 53 St. Petersburg

South Africa • CSIR-National Metrology Laboratory 56 Cape Town

Spain • Metrologia de Radiaciones Ionizantes, CIEMAT 57 Madrid

• Departamento de Física. Universidad de Extremadura 61 Badajoz

Switzerland • Institut Universitaire de Radiophysique Appliquée, IRA/METAS, (SA1/SA2) 63

Lausanne

The Netherlands • Nederlands Meetinstituut, NMi, (SA1/SA2) 65 Utrecht

United Kingdom • AEA Technology, (SA1/SA2) 66 Harwell

• National Physical Laboratory, NPL, (SA1/SA2) 69 Teddington

USA • Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab., (SA1/SA2) 83 Idaho Falls

• National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST 85 Gaithersburg

Yugoslavia • Institute of Occupational and Radiological Health “Dr. Dragomir Karajovic” 102 Belgrade

EDITORIAL This newsletter was established in response to a recommendation of the International

Committee for Radionuclide Metrology made during its General Meeting in Grenoble

1985. It is meant to serve as a medium for informal exchange of information between

workers active in the field of Radionuclide Metrology.

The scope of the Radionuclide Metrology Newsletter is to describe briefly current activities

in the following topics :

foil and source preparation; •

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α-, β- and γ-ray spectrometry including spectrum evaluation;

improvement and development of radionuclide measurement techniques;

measurement and evaluation of radionuclide data;

low-level radioactivity measurement techniques;

life-sciences;

quality assurance and traceability.

In order to ensure that the Newsletter is as comprehensive and informative as possible,

contributions are sought from all laboratories known to be engaged in measurements and

data evaluation techniques relevant to Radionuclide Metrology.

All previous contributors will be informed concerning the deadline for the next issue. New

contributing Radionuclide Metrology laboratories are welcome. Please contact the editor.

Any comments on this issue or suggestions for improvement will be welcome.

At the ICRM General Meeting in Paris 1995, it was decided that the ICRM Newsletter would

also allow for the distribution of Progress/Planning Reports SA1 and SA2.

From the experience of this issue, we have the following situation : Laboratories regard their

normal Newsletter contribution as the fulfilment of SA1/SA2. In this case this is indicated on

the contribution by “SA1/SA2”. Or laboratories provide (additionally) the traditional

SA1/SA2 reports which should not be longer than 2 pages. In the latter case it should be

mentioned in the accompanying letter, that the SA1/SA2 contributions be intended for

publication in the Newsletter.

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IMPORTANT NOTE

For economy reasons subscriptions to the ICRM Newsletter have to be renewed yearly. •

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•

Please use the mailing list form (last page of this issue) and copy it for your colleagues

or any other person interested.

All laboratories engaged in radionuclide metrology are invited to contribute to the next

issue.

In case you did not contribute to this issue, please inform the editor in order to be invited

for the next issue in due time.

Contributions may be sent by E-mail as an attachment in MS Word or as plain text file.

This has been tested and will work well in most cases.

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IV

INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRIBUTORS

The Newsletter is printed by direct photographic reproduction. To ensure readability and

avoid unnecessary work by the editor, it is suggested that:

Contributions should be typed on plain white A4 paper (21cm x 29,7cm) inside a box of

16cm x 21.7cm which should be situated 4,75cm from the upper and 3cm from the left

margin. Please use font Times New Roman size 12. The format indicated below should

be followed.

•

•

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Contributions should contain no page number, date, signature, or any correspondence

references typed on this sheet. Correspondence to the editor must be on a separate sheet.

Contributions should be in English and carefully proofread by the authors.

References to publications or reprints should be completed as required by the Physical

Review.

Complete mailing address and the name of a person who can be contacted for additional

information by those desiring it should be given at the end.

Please use the “contribution.dot” file included on the pdf version of this issue.

V

LABORATORY Name of laboratory

NAMES If more than one laboratory is involved, identify affiliation through abbreviations (ORNL, LASL, etc.). Visitors can also be identified with asterisks.

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Choose one: the former for experiments and the latter for compilations, calculations, or theory.

RESULTS Use this for experimental results.

PUBLICATIONS Use Physical Review style. Include only published materials

IN PROGRESS Use this for description of the current work.

INFORMATION Use this for evaluations or compilations.

SOURCE IN PREPARATION

Use this to also indicate papers submitted for publication.

OTHER RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Optional.

ADDRESS Mailing address. Give also telephone, telex, fax numbers and E-mail.

CONTACT Single contact person.

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President’s Message

The International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology (ICRM) is an association of radionuclide metrology laboratories whose membership is composed of delegates of these laboratories together with other scientists (associate members) actively engaged in the study and applications of radioactivity. It explicitly aims at being an international forum for the dissemination of information on techniques, applications and data in the field of radionuclide metrology. This discipline provides a range of tools for tackling a wide variety of problems in numerous other fields, for both basic research and industrial applications.

Plenary meetings of the ICRM are held biennially, and have developed into a

successful instrument of communication among various specialists, thus encouraging international co-operation. The most recent plenary meeting (ICRM 2001) took place on 14 – 18 May 2001 at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig, Germany. The number of participants was 130 and over 100 abstracts were submitted to the scientific organising committee for presentation either as oral or poster presentations. The scientific papers accepted by the committee were published as Volume 56, No.1-2 of Applied Radiation and Isotopes in Jan-Feb 2002.

There are 29 institutions now represented by delegates in the ICRM. The ICRM has

no membership fee and no paid secretariat or other staff. Its overall direction is determined by the delegates in General Meetings, which convene usually every two years, where organizational guidelines and directions for the working programs are agreed upon. The following officers of ICRM are presently serving on the Executive Board:

President M.J. Woods1

Vice-President H. Janszen2 Y. Hino3 B.R. Simpson4

Past-President B.M. Coursey5

Secretary P. de Felice6

The Executive Board relies heavily on the Nominating Committee which has the

objective of ensuring the continuity of purpose and vigour of ICRM. It does this by soliciting from the membership, and by itself proposing, the names of eligible candidates to fill vacancies about to occur on the Executive Board and the Nominating Committee. The current membership of this committee is:

Chairman N. Coursol7 Members M. Sahagia8 G. Winkler9

ICRM activities are largely the responsibility of its working groups. Each group is

guided by a co-ordinator who acts as a centre for ideas and communications and may organize conferences and workshops. There are now seven working groups with the following fields of interest:

(1) Alpha-Particle Spectrometry (5) Non-Neutron Nuclear Data E. Garcia-Torano10 A.L. Nichols11

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(2) Gamma-Ray and Beta-Particle Spectrometry (6) Radionuclide Metrology Techniques J.M. Los Arcos10 J. Keightley1, M. Unterweger5

(3) Liquid Scintillation Techniques (7) Life Sciences P. Cassette7 B. Zimmerman5

(4) Low-Level Measurement Techniques S.M. Jerome1

It is of particular note that Dietmar Reher has devoted many years to ensuring that the

quality and distribution of the ICRM Newsletter have been maintained at a high level. For all his ideas and contributions I would like to take this opportunity to thank him (and his institute, IRMM) for their many efforts over the years. Having said this, we still look forward to Dietmar continuing as an active and enthusiastic member of ICRM.

The next biennial ICRM meeting (ICRM 2003) will be held in June, 2003 in Dublin,

Ireland hosted by the Department of Experimental Physics, University College, Dublin. The contact person of the local organizing committee is Prof. Peter Mitchell. The meetings will be open to all interested persons. They will follow guidelines similar to those of ICRM 2001 comprising a general conference on radionuclide metrology and its applications that will cover the fields of radionuclide metrology techniques, source preparation, measurement standards and reference materials, alpha-particle spectrometry, beta-particle spectrometry, gamma-ray spectrometry, nuclear decay data, life sciences, and low-level measurements. Further information on the meeting together with details of the other activities of ICRM and its Working Groups will be available from the ICRM web site at http:/ /physics.nist.gov/icrm

Anyone wishing to participate in ICRM's activities or to receive further information is

encouraged to contact one of the officers or Working Group chairs. February 2002 Mike Woods President References 1. Centre for Ionizing Radiation Metrology, National Physical Laboratory (NPL),

Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TWll 0LW, U.K.

2. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Section 6.11, Bundesalle 100, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany

3. Radioactivity and Neutron Section, Quantum Radiation Division,National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8568 JAPAN

4. Radioactivity Standards Laboratory, National Metrology Laboratory, CSIR-NML, ZA-Rosebank 7700, Cape Town, South Africa

5. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Ionizing Radiation Division, Physics Laboratory, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-8460, U.S.A.

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6. ENEA C.R. Casaccia, P.O. Box 2400, I-00100 Rome, Italy

7. CEA, DIMRI, Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (BNM-LNHB), 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.

8. National Institute of C&D for Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN), P.O. Box MG-6, RO-76900 Bucharest, Romania

9. Institut für Isotopenforschung und Kernphysik der Universitat Wien Radiuminstitut (IRK), Boltzmanngasse 3, A- 1090 Wien, Austria.

10. Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Technologicas (CIEMAT), Fisica de Radiaciones Ioniz., Avenida Complutense 22, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.

11. Nuclear Data Section, Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Wagramerstrasse 5, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

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Report of the Alpha-Particle Spectrometry Working Group

The aim of this Working Group (WG) was described in the document “WG Scope and Actions”, issued in 1993. Since then no new areas of interest have been identified. Activities related to the objectives of this WG are described below.

Five laboratories (BNM-LNHB, Univ. of Extremadura, IRMM, NPL and CIEMAT)

participate in the EUROMET project 591 on the measurement of nuclear data of 235U. The main objective of the project is the measurement of the alpha-particle emission probabilities of this nuclide, which exhibits a very complex decay scheme. The project started in 2000, the first co-ordination meeting being held in March. A set of sources has been prepared at CIEMAT and was measured at the participating laboratories. A new set is to be prepared by IRMM with very pure material by vacuum evaporation. At least three laboratories (IRMM, NPL and CIEMAT) will use similar measurement chambers. To minimize bias, all spectra will be analyzed by more than one laboratory.

Work has continued in the frame of the International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Program "Development and Applications of Alpha-Particle Spectrometry". The first version of a new Windows-based fitting program has already been distributed to participants for evaluation. From the side of instrumentation, a new paper reported on the use of cryogenic detectors for high-resolution measurement of alpha-particle spectra.

The Web site of this working group is hosted by CIEMAT and can be accessed either through the main ICRM Web site or through the Radiation Metrology site at CIEMAT, whose address is: http://www.ciemat.es/eng/proyectos/pdfpemetrolog.html

The WG participated at the ICRM'2001 conference at PTB. In the business meeting it was agreed to hold a joint workshop with the low-level WG on yield tracers, probably at the University of Extremadura.

WG members are encouraged to provide information about their activities to the WG coordinator. E. Garcia-Torano, CIEMAT

tel :34 91 346 6225 fax :34 91 346 6442 E.Garciatorano@CIEMAT.ES

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Report of the Gamma-Ray and Beta-Particle Spectrometry Working Group The Business Meeting of the GBS WG was held on May 14, 2001, during the ICRM’2001 Conference in Braunschweig, with the following Agenda (Document GBS-2001-01): 1. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES:

1.1 Previous Activities 1.2 ICRM'2001 Contributions

2. ACTION GBS-A01: "Intercomparison of Performance of Coincidence-Summing Corrections"

2.1 Objectives 2.2 Procedure 2.3 Work Plan 2.4 Participation Forms

3. OTHER ACTIVITIES 3.1 WG Web Page 3.2 Member Activities and/or Proposals

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS In this Business Meeting, the Coordinator informed about the future implementation of the Web page of the GBS WG, and two members presented short communications on: a) Traceability in γ-ray spectrometry (M. Korun) b) Tools for γ-ray spectrometry (M.Ch. Lépy) In addition, the Coordinator presented a detailed plan to develop the Action GBS-A01 ("Intercomparison of Coincidence-Summing Correction Methods"), and 15 laboratories declared their preliminary interest to participate. The "Call for Participation" (GBS-2001-02) and "Participation Form" (GBS-2001-03) documents which describe the Objectives, Procedure, Work Plan and Participation Form were distributed during the Business Meeting and later on, by e-mail, to the full List of Attendees to ICRM’2001. The response to the Call for Participation was very satisfactory with: 1) 26 laboratories, from 20 countries, and 29 methods to be compared, 2) 10 labs offered measured spectra for estimating the corrections, 3) 3 labs participate with two alternative methods each, 4) a significant number of methods involved: Monte Carlo, direct decay evaluation, simplified/empirical, matrix formalism with numerical integration and commercially available codes, 5) 14 different nuclear data bases/sources being used. Now the second and the third steps in the Work Plan, "Selection of Radionuclides, Geometries and Data suppliers", are in progress: the Coordinator is in contact with all data-supplier laboratories in order to agree a careful choice of geometries, radionuclides and final data sets (preferably supported by absolute measurements) to be used by as many participants/methods as possible. The Action is expected to be finished by December 2002.

J. M. Los Arcos , CIEMAT

tel:34 91 346 62 88 fax: 34 91 346 6442 jmlosarcos@ciemat.es

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Report of the Liquid Scintillation Counting Working Group

A specific 2-days meeting of the LSC working group was organised in Saclay (France) in November 2000 to make an overview of Liquid Scintillation techniques used in radionuclide metrology. The meeting was attended by 11 people from 7 countries or international organisations.

A meeting of the LSC Working Group was also held during the last ICRM meeting in Braunchweig (Germany) in May 2001. The main points discussed during these meetings are reported hereafter. 1 Radionuclide standardisation methods

1.1 Physical models

1.1.1 Ionisation quench factor The ionisation quenching models used in both CIEMAT/NIST and TDCR were discussed with a special emphasis on the correct determination of the value of the electron linear energy transfer (LET) used in the Birks formula. CIEMAT presented a critical review of LET calculation and method of optimisation of the Birks parameter kB.

1.1.2 Wall effect correction An evaluation of the wall effect phenomenon in the case of the standardisation of high-energy beta nuclides like 89Sr was presented by LNHB. This effect was simulated using a Monte Carlo computation code, PENELOPE, developed at the University of Barcelona. The spectrum distortion due to this wall effect is calculated by the code and this spectrum can be used, instead of the radionuclide theoretical beta spectrum, in the computer codes used to calculate LSC detection efficiency in the CIEMAT/NIST or in the TDCR method. In the case of unquenched sources of 89Sr, the spectrum distortion is noticeable but its influence on the calculated detection efficiency is negligible.

1.1.3 Beta spectra The calculation of beta spectra was presented by LNHB. It was shown that for forbidden non-unique transitions the choice of the shape factor and its dependence on the electron energy and momentum is not straightforward. This problem can be observed from the calculation of the mean beta energy using various shape factors formula. The main common nuclides concerned by this problem are 87Rb, 36Cl, 99Tc, 129I and 137Cs.

1.1.4 Atomic and nuclear data The necessity to get reliable atomic and nuclear data for LSC standardisation was discussed especially for X-rays, Auger lines and capture probabilities. PTB presented an example of data input for the calculation of the detection efficiency using the CIEMAT/NIST method.

1.2 CIEMAT/NIST method

• PTB presented a new computer program, CN2000B, developed to calculate the detection efficiency of beta and electron-capture nuclides.

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• RC showed that the effect of the ionisation quenching factor, kB, on the detection efficiency calculated using the CIEMAT/NIST method is small for beta nuclides but can become important for electron-capture radionuclides. This effect depends on the nuclide detection efficiency.

• All the participants agreed on the necessity, highlighted by NIST, to closely match the chemical composition of the tritium tracer source with the chemical composition of the solution to be standardised.

1.3 TDCR method

• LNHB showed that the effect of the ionisation quenching factor, kB on the detection efficiency calculated using the TDCR method is small for electron-capture radionuclides but can be important for low-energy beta nuclides. This effect depends on the nuclide detection efficiency.

• LNHB exposed the main design principles of a 3-photomultiplier tubes LSC counter for the implementation of the TDCR method.

• A case study of detection efficiency calculation was organised in order to compare the various TDCR software. Detection efficiency of a tritium source in a toluene-based LS-cocktail was calculated using a TDCR value of 0.5 and a kB value of 0.01 cm/MeV. Results, which were briefly discussed during the ICRM'2001 conference, showed that there is an ambiguity in the definition of the TDCR value, some laboratories considering D as the double coincidence value and some, as the logical sum of the double coincidence value.

2 Source stability studies

• NIST reported stability studies of LSC sources made with alkaline 188W/188Re solutions

• NIST also presented an extensive stability study of 177Lu sources prepared with 5 different cocktails, under various water contents and with or without the addition of an organic complexing agent

3 Nuclide standardisation

• The opportunity of a new tritiated water LSC intercomparison was discussed and it was decided to forward this action to the Radionuclide Techniques Working group.

• PTB presented a proposal for a concerted research project concerning the measurement of half-lives of very long-lived radionuclides for geochronology applications. The radionuclides of interest are : 235U, 238U, 40K, 87Rb, 147Sm, 176Lu, 187Rh and 190Pt.

• Various laboratories reported the standardisation of nuclides of medical interest using LSC like 18F, 11C, 153Sm and 177Lu.

• LNHB reported dead-time problems related to 226Ra and 222Rn LSC standardisation due to the presence of 214Po (165 µs half-life).

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4 LSC Working Group Web page The LSC working group web page is hosted by the LNHB server and is accessible, via an hyperlink, from the main ICRM web page. Participant contributions an comments are welcome and must be sent by e-mail to the co-ordinator. P. Cassette, BNM-LNHB

tel : 33 1 69 08 4868, fax :33 1 69 08 2619 philippe.cassette@cea.fr

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Report of the Low Level Techniques Working Group

The WG held it’s business meeting at the ICRM 2001 Conference at PTB in May 2001. During the conference, 9 papers were presented during the session on Low Level Measurements, 8 of which were published in the conference proceedings.

An email contact list has been set up for those interested in the activities of the Low-Level Techniques Working Group and is maintained at NPL. In addition, the group’s website may be found at

http://physics.nist.gov/Divisions/Div846/ICRM/working_groups.html#LLMT

Future activities will be a joint workshop with the Alpha Spectrometry Working Group on the Future Supply of Actinides Chemical Yield Tracers, possibly in late 2002 and another conference on Low-Level Radioactivity Measurement Techniques in Autumn 2003.

The venue of the 2003 conference will be in Vienna, with Dr Robert Edelmeier (BEV) and Dr Martina Schweiger (ARC) as hosts. The offer was received and the proposed conference approved by the ICRM Board late in 2001. Simon Jerome, NPL tel: 44 20 8943 6204 fax: 44 20 8943 6458 simon.Jerome@npl.co.uk

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Report of the Non-Neutron Nuclear Data Working Group (3NDWG) 1. The primary aim on the 3NDWG is to provide the scientific community with a suitable environment in which specialists in the field of non-neutron nuclear data measurements and evaluations can learn more about each others’ work, liaise and combine forces to undertake research programmes of mutual interest, and organise multinational efforts to produce sets of recommended non-neutron nuclear data. The full mission statement of the 3NDWG can be found as the first item in the 2000 annual report, and will not be fully repeated here. 2. Much of the communication between the most active members of the 3NDWG has occurred through the Internet (and CD-ROM). This situation is particularly the case for work associated with the Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP) undertaken under the auspices of the ICRM, and the IAEA Co-ordinated Research Programme to Update X- and Gamma-ray Standards for Detector Calibration and Other Applications. Meetings of the 3NDWG were held in the week of the ICRM2001 conference at PTB Braunschweig (14-18 May 2001) specifically to discuss progress with the IAEA-CRP and DDEP, and various miscellaneous items arising from the conference. 3. The DDEP has a new co-ordinator appointed in mid-2001: Dr Edgardo Browne, Isotopes Project, MS 50A-1148, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. This work continues with contributions from: Brazil: Universidade de Sao Paulo; France: DAMRI/LNHB; Germany: PTB; Russia: Khlopin Institute; Spain: CIEMAT and UNED; UK: HMS Sultan, AEA Technology and NPL; USA: INEEL and LBNL. Anybody interested in participating in this work should contact Edgardo Browne. 4. The DDEP review process is being used as a suitable means of ensuring high quality decay data are recommended for the IAEA-CRP (completion is planned for late 2002/early 2003). Dr Mike Herman oversees this programme for the IAEA Nuclear Data Section, and plans are being made for a final Co-ordinated Research Meeting in October 2002. One hope is that the recommended database will become available sometime in 2003. 5. Please note that with effect from 8 October 2001, Alan Nichols (3NDWG Co-ordinator) has moved from AEA Technology, Harwell to a new position as: Head, Nuclear Data Section, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramerstrasse 5, P O Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.

6. The next meeting of the 3NDWG is expected to occur during the biennial meeting of the ICRM (Dublin, 2003).

A L Nichols, IAEA tel: (+43-1) 2600-21709 fax: (+43-1) 26007 a.nichols@iaea.org

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Report of the Radionuclide Metrology Techniques Working Group At the ICRM 2001 conference the Radionuclide Metrology Techniques Working Group was reactivated. Two immediate tasks proposed to be undertaken were (1) the continuing effort to develop the techniques of digitally recorded pulse train analysis and (2) a new intercomparison of tritiated water standards. Digitally recorded pulse trains for use with the NPL/ANSTO Digital Coincidence Counting system (containing information on pulse heights and times in 2 channels) is being converted to the data format used by KRISS (Korea) and the CMI (Czech Republic). This will facilitate a direct comparison of the capabilities of each of the laboratories software analysis systems for coincidence counting. As a further test, some simple Monte Carlo simulated data sets (with known decay parameters) will be circulated between the laboratories. John Keightley has made significant progress in the data conversion process to the KRISS format, and is only awaiting a final check of the data format. The tritiated water intercomparison will be discussed among the involved laboratories and a decision will be made before the end of the first half of 2002 as to what samples will be sent for measurement. One thought is to send NIST and PTB samples to the participating laboratories for intercomparison. The measurements will be made at the participating laboratory using the method of their choice.

At the 2001 ICRM meeting, there was support for the idea that a small group of leading experts in absolute standardization techniques should come together to discuss the present state-of-the-art of the various techniques and the expected levels of uncertainties that could be realistically achieved. The group would also consider which are the most significant contributors to the uncertainty budget and how these might be reduced. New/novel techniques would be discussed too. Preliminary discussions are underway to produce a workable agenda. Co-coordinators : Michael Unterweger John Keightley National Institute of Standards and Technology National Physical Laboratory Radioactivity Group Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology Building 245 Room C114 Queens Road 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8462 UK- Teddington, Middlesex, TW 11 0LW Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 United Kingdom Tel: 301-975-5536 Tel: +44 20 8943 6398 Fax: 301-926-7416 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: unterweg@nist.gov E-mail: john.keightley@npl.co.uk

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Report of the Life Sciences Working Group

The latest meeting of the ICRM Life Sciences Working Group was held on May 16, 2001 in Braunschweig, Germany as part of the full ICRM conference.

It began with a report from the Coordinator on actions discussed and acted upon since

the meeting of the ad-hoc Working Group in Prague. Much of that material had been previously reported to the ICRM through the 2000 ICRM newsletter. The first new item to be reported was the results of an intercomparison of 177Lu by NIST and PTB. Both laboratories received a portion of a stock solution, prepared by Mallinckrodt, Inc., made their own activity measurements, and prepared ampoules that were subsequently sent to the SIR for measurement. The results showed a 2 % disagreement between the two laboratories. Although the reasons for the discrepancy are still not known, possible contributors are the presence of a 177mLu impurity and difficulties with liquid scintillation cocktail stability.

This was followed by a report by Mr. Mike Woods on progress made on the 18F

intercomparison, which had been organized by NPL. Data are still being analyzed and the results are expected in early 2002. Those results are expected to be published as soon as they are available.

The next item was presented by Dr. Bert Coursey, who reported on a recent regional

intercomparison of 131I that he had organized. The National Metrology Laboratories of Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico all participated by receiving ampoules prepared by NIST and which had been sent as blind samples in February 2001. The results indicate that all three laboratories reported values nominally 2.5 % to 3 % lower than the NIST value. The cause for this is still under study, but the important point to be made is that the present exercise demonstrates the feasibility of carrying out similar intercomparisons among the laboratories in Latin America.

Finally, a number of new actions were proposed and discussed. They include:

. An intercomparison of 67Ga, which would be organized by NPL. The format of this exercise would be similar to that of 18F, but with a more formalized reporting scheme that would enable it to be considered in the framework of an SIR intercomparison.

. Collection of geometric correction factors for measuring medical radionuclides in various ionization chambers and measurement containers (e.g., syringes, dose vials). So far, the only laboratories indicating interest in the project are NPL and NIST. Other laboratories wishing to participate should contact the Coordinator.

. An assessment of “realistic” uncertainties encountered in intercomparison results reported by non-metrology institutes such as hospitals. This project is being led by NPL, with NIST indicating interest.

. An interest expressed by NIST to conduct an intercomparison of 90Y. Further action on this will likely be deferred until the results of the 18F intercomparison are available and the 67Ga intercomparison is organized.

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It is hoped that discussions about organization of the above items, as well as other topics of general interest to the Working Group, be conducted through the Working Group email list: icrmlswg@nist.gov. Those with interest that are not yet on the distribution list are encouraged to contact the Coordinator.

Brian E. Zimmerman, NIST tel: 1 301 975 5191 fax: : 1 301 926 7416 bez@nist.gov

XIX

XX

International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology

ICRM

CONTRIBUTIONS

XXI

(SA1/SA2)

LABORATORY Metrologia de Radioisotopos, CNEA

NAMES P. ARENILLAS, F.A.IGLICKI, G.CERUTTI, J. AGUIAR

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

4πβ (PC)-γ (NaI) coincidence system. 4πβ (PPC)-γ (NaI) coincidence system Si-PIP and surface barrier detectors 1. Absolute acActivity measurements. 2. Participation in international comparisons.

RESULTS 1. Activity standardisation have been performed: 238Pu with defined solid angle system 2. Construction of a new definite solid angle alpha system for absolute measurements 3. Participation in BIPM international comparisons: 238Pu 4. Construction of a LSC TDCR system

IN PROGRESS 1. Implementation of a new definite solid angle alpha system.

2. Implementation of a LSC TDCR System

3. Absolute activity measurements.

4. Participation in the SIR for the activity measurements

5. Participation in NIST comparison for SIM

ADDRESS Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Centro Atómico Ezeiza. Unidad de Actividad Radioquímica. Av. del Libertador 8250.1429-Buenos Aires – ARGENTINA. Telephone/Fax: (54-11) 4379-8408/8554. e-mail: arenilla@cae.cnea.gov.ar

CONTACT P. A. ARENILLAS

1

(SA1/SA2)

LABORATORY Metrologia de Radioisotopos, CNEA

NAMES G.L Cerutti, P.A. Arenillas, F.A. Iglicki, G. Bocca, J.Aguiar

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

High pressure ionisation chamber. Si-PIP and surface barrier detectors. HPGe spectrometer systems. HPGe planar detector. NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. Automatic sample changers. Liquid scintillation counting system. Multichannel analyzers and personal 1. Preparation, quality control, standardisation and issue of :standard point sources and solutions of several radionuclides for gamma-ray and alpha spectrometry. 2. Large area standard sources of alpha, beta and gamma emitters. 3. Routine measurements and certifications of non radioactive contamination in imported or exported foodstuffs. 4. Routine measurements of natural radionuclides in environmental samples. 5. Development of standard sources.

RESULTS 1. Preparation, quality control, standardisation and issue of 70 standard sources and solutions. 2. Certifications of non radioactive contamination in 1300 samples of imported and exported foodstuffs. 3. Analysis of 226Ra in 5 samples of sweep test. 4. Determination of Co-60 activity in approximately 440 samples for surface contamination and sealed control of sources used in cobalt therapy. 5. Participation in NIST comparison for SIM of 131I. 6. Determination of 90Sr , 241Am and 239Pu in milk powder samples 7. Determination of 90Sr in oil samples by Cerencov counting 8.Analysis of natural and artificial radionuclides in water from oil well.

PUBLICATIONS Development of simulated gas standards” . G.L.Cerutti, F.A.Iglicki, 13th ICRM conference, Braunschweig, Germany, May 11-21, 2001.

IN PROGRESS Implementation of a quality system based on Guide ISO 17025.

ADDRESS Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Centro Atómico Ezeiza. Unidad de Actividad Radioquímica. Av. del Libertador 8250.1429 - Buenos Aires - ARGENTINA. Tel: (54-11) 4379-8218, Fax:(54-11) 4379-8554 e-mail: iglicki@cae.cnea.gov.ar

CONTACT F. A. IGLICKI.

2

(SA1/SA2)

LABORATORY Metrologia de Radioisotopos, CNEA

NAMES M.I. Mila.

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Ionisation chamber dose calibrators High pressure ionisation chamber. GeHp and NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometers systems.

1. Routine metrological assessment of radionuclide calibrators used in Nuclear Medicine.

2. Preparation, quality control and standardisation of standard sources for Nuclear Medicine.

3. Organisation of intercomparison for activity measurements among Nuclear Medicine Centres in Argentina.

RESULTS Assessment of 48 Nuclear Medicine Centre calibrators and 18 commercial ones.

PUBLICATIONS “Intercomparación de determinaciones de actividad de Tl-201 en Centros de Medicina Nuclear”. M.I.Milá, F.A.Iglicki, XXII Congreso Nacional de Medicina Nuclear, Ciudad Real, España, June 13 - 16, 2001. Proceedings. "Control de Calidad de activímetros e intercomparación de determinaciones de actividad en centros de Medicina Nuclear", M.I.Milá, F.A.Iglicki, en el XIII Congreso Argentino de Biología Y Medicina Nuclear - I Jornadas de Países del Mercosur de Biología y Medicina Nuclear, Buenos Aires, November 2 - 4, 2001. Proceedings.

IN PROGRESS Organisation of intercomparison for activity measurements of 201Tl and 131I, among Argentinian Nuclear Medicine

ADDRESS Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Centro Atómico Ezeiza. Unidad de Actividad Radioquímica. Av. del Libertador 8250.1429-Buenos Aires - ARGENTINA. Tel/Fax: (54-11) 4379-8554. E-mail : mila@cae.cnea.gov.ar

CONTACT M. I. MILA

3

(SA1/SA2) LABORATORY Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation NAMES Dimitri Alexiev, Li Mo, Mark Reinhard, Justin Davies

Activities undertaken in 2001 •Participated in the international inter-comparison of activity measurement of F-18 as organised by NPL. The result was used to calibrate Capintec Inc. dose calibrator at Australian National Cyclotron PET QC

•Accredited to ISO 9001 during 2001, and source registration and associated records were created and maintained as according to Australian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (ARPANSA) guidelines.

Programme for 2002 •To extend our metrology capabilities by establishing Liquid Scintillation metrology in addition to our current 4πβ(ppc)-γ coincidence counting techniques.

•For Ms Li Mo to receive training and guidance in Liquid Scintillation counting methods from Dr Bruce Simpson and his colleague Freda Morris of the CSIR-NML based in Cape Town.

•To discuss with Dr Simpson the potential applications and development of the ANSTO/NPL Digital Coincidence Counting (DCC) System as relevant to the techniques used at the CSIR-NML.

•To standardise Au-198 using the 4πβ(ppc)-γ coincidence counting system and the result to be used to assist Quality Assurance for the ANSTO HIFAR reactor irradiation facility.

•Participate in the international inter-comparison of activity measurement of Tl-204.

ADDRESS ANSTO Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation New Illawarra Road Lucas Heights NSW 2234 Australia Tel: 61 2 9717 3182 Fax: 61 2 9717 9265 Website: www.ansto.gov.au, E-mail: dax@ansto.gov.au

CONTACT

Dr Dimitri Alexiev

4

LABORATORIES IAEA Nuclear Data Section, Vienna, Austria;

Serco Assurance, Winfrith Science Centre, Dorchester, UK

NAMES A L Nichols (IAEA); C J Dean and R J Perry (Serco Assurance)

ACTIVITY Decay-data evaluations and preparation of databases

Decay-data evaluations completed and files prepared in 2001:

(a) activation products: 36Cl, 67Ni, 79Se, 79Sem, 89Rb, 92Sr, 103Mo, 126Sn, 126Sb, 126mSb, 126nSb, 121Te, 121mTe, 137La, 145Ce, 163Ho, 163Hom, 199Au and 205Hg.

(b) actinides: 228Th decay chain, 235Um, 236Pu, 239Pu, 241Pu, 241Am and 242Cm.

PUBLICATIONS O. Bersillon et al, “JEFF-3T: Decay Data and Fission Yield Libraries”, ND2001 Int. Conf. Nucl. Data for Science and Technology, 7-12 Oct 2001, Tsukuba, Japan.

IN PROGRESS Evaluation of decay data for DDEP under auspices of ICRM

INFORMATION 56Mn, 203Hg, 228Th decay chain, 234Pam evaluations on-going for DDEP. 97Tcm, 106Rh, 109Pd, 126Sb, 127Sb, 127Te, 127Tem, 132Te, 132I, 144Pr and 201Pb evaluations planned for DDEP.

Possible additional evaluations for JEFF-3 (ie., specific actinides and activation products).

IN PREPARATION

UKPADD and UKHEDD data libraries prepared for subsequent use in JEFF-3T Decay Data Library (NEA-OECD Data Bank).

OTHER RELATED PUBLICATIONS

M. Herman and A L Nichols, Update of X- and Gamma-ray Decay Data Standards for Detector Calibration and Other Applications: Summary Report of Second RCM, INDC(NDS)-415, Sept 2000.

A L Nichols, Decay Data: Review of Measurements, Evaluations and Compilations, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 55 (2001) 23-70.

ADDRESS IAEA Nuclear Data Section, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, PO Box 100, Wagramerstrasse 5, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.

CONTACT Dr Alan Nichols

5

actions SA1 and SA2 Summary of the research programme related to radionuclide metrology for the years 2001 and

2002at the ”Institut für Isotopenforschung und Kernphysik” (IIK) of the University of Vienna, Austria

Boltzmanngasse 3, A-1090 Wien; Tel: +43-1-4277-51754, FAX: +43-1-4277-51752 http://www.univie.ac.at/Kernphysik/irk_engl.htm

http://www.univie.ac.at/Kernphysik/research/irk_re.htm

The historical name of the institute was changed from Institut für Radiumforschung und Kernphysik (IRK) to Institut für Isotopenforschung und Kernphysik (IIK). The activities at the IIK concentrate on the improvement and development of atomic and nuclear measuring techniques and data handling procedures for interdisciplinary applied physics work with special emphasis on the detection of long-lived radionuclides, particularly in the very-low-level range. Nuclear-decay-counting techniques have been widely replaced by mass-spectrometric techniques with high selectivity and high sensitivity. Updated and more detailed information about research at IIK during the last four years will also be provided soon via the institute's internet home page given above. Names: H. Friedmann, H. Figl, E. Friedl, R. Golser, P. Hille, H. Hinterhofer, W. Kutschera (director), V. Liechtenstein, J. Lukas, E. Pak, A. Pavlik, A. Priller, J. Schwarzenberg, P. Steier, B. Strohmaier, S. Tagesen, Ch. Vockenhuber, H. Vonach, E. Wild, G. Winkler, St. Winkler, P. Zimprich 1. The tandem-accelerator mass-spectrometry facility VERA (Vienna Environmental Research

Accelerator) and its use

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is a major field of research at the IIK. With AMS the radionuclides are measured by direct atom counting; selectivity is achieved employing energy-, momentum- and velocity-selecting devices (electrostatic, magnetic and time-of-flight/Wien filters) and using common ion detectors for counting and final energy measurement. The interesting nuclides (with extremely small radioisotope-to-stable-isotope ratios in the 10-10 to 10-15 range) cannot be measured at natural levels through radioactive-decay counting, particularly for small samples in the milligram range, typically containing only 105 to 108 radionuclide atoms. Predominantly isotope ratios are measured relative to appropriate standards. The VERA facility is based on a 3-MV Pelletron tandem accelerator (from National Electrostatics Corporation in Wisconsin, USA). For details on the experimental equipment see http://www.univie.ac.at/Kernphysik/VERA/welcome.htm . The bending power of the magnetic elements of VERA enables the transport ions from the lightest to the heaviest elements, e.g. 244Pu5+ ions.

Presently with VERA the AMS technique works well for measurements of light ions like 14C (T1/2=5.7x103 a), 10Be (T1/2=1.5x106 a), 26Al (T1/2=7.2x105 a); for 10Be, which is accompanied by a strong isobaric background of stable 10B, the different range of the two isobars in matter can be utilised for their separation. 10B is completely stopped in a gas absorber (homogeneous!) in front of a Si detector, while the longer range of 10Be allows its detection. A heavy ion program in the first instance aims at establishing measuring methods for long-lived radionuclides where suppression of isobars is not required, such as 129I (T1/2=1.6x107 a) [129I/127I ratios], 210Pb (T1/2=22 a), 236U (T1/2=23x106 a), and all heavier ions

6

where no stable isobars exist, e.g. 244Pu (T1/2=81x106 a). To suppress neighbouring masses, the resolution of VERA was increased by improving the ion optics of existing elements and by installing a large electrostatic analyser for precision energy measurements at the high-energy side of the tandem, after the analysing magnet. Interfering ions which pass all beam filters are discriminated by a high-resolution time-of-flight system, using a 0.5 µg/cm2 diamond-like carbon foil in the start detector substantially reducing beam straggling.

In co-operation with GSI Darmstadt, University of Mainz, and Kurchatov Institute Moscow, a calorimetric cryodetector (sapphire crystal whose temperature rise is measured at the superconducting transition edge of an aluminium strip at about 1.5 K) was also employed at the flight path for discrimination and energy spectroscopy of heavy ions. The energy resolution of 150 keV for 30-MeV 238U ions from the 3-MV tandem was an order of magnitude better than with a gas-ionisation detector and two orders of magnitude better than with a surface-barrier detector.

2. AMS measurements combined with decay counting Study of the stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) via 10Be/ 7Be isotope ratios:

This work relates to atmospheric chemistry and is part of the European project STACCATO (Influence of Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange in a Changing Climate on Atmospheric Transport and Oxidation Capacity). Stratosphere-troposphere exchange is one of the key factors controlling the budgets of ozone, water vapour and other substances in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. The two cosmogenic isotopes of Be, 10Be (measured by AMS) and 7Be (measured by decay counting), have very different half-lives; the combination of production rates, half-lives, and different residence times in the troposphere and stratosphere, results in 10B/ 7Be isotope ratios that can be used as fingerprints leading to improved estimates of STE. Air-filter samples collected at high-alpine stations are employed. 3. Conventional radionuclide instrumentation and evaluation

4π NaI(Tl) gamma well-type detector (12.7 x 12.7 cm) with software to calculate total efficiencies and check the consistency of chosen decay schemes; shielded high-purity Ge detector; 3"x 3" NaI(Tl) detectors; Si(Li) x-ray detector; sealed thin-window Xe proportional counter tube; surface-barrier detectors; 4π-beta-ray counter; 2π-beta-ray counter with anticoincidence shielding counter; two methane proportional counters with screening counters for dating using the conventional 14C method; various types of ionisation chambers operated in current mode and a solid state detection system for measurements of radon and thoron and their daughters, an electrete measuring device for the same purpose; the universal spectra-analysis program "IRUK" [developed by H. Friedmann] for use on PCs (including peak search and macro programming); PC-based multiscaler (to study decay curves, frequency-of-events distributions, pulse correlations); programmable precision counter modules.

4. Other projects Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA):

The cosmogenic radionuclide 81Kr (T1/2=2.3×105 a) is a very useful tracer for environmental and climate research, e.g. for dating ancient ice or ground water. However, a quantitative determination is very difficult and even with accelerator mass spectrometry not

7

yet possible routinely. The ATTA method developed recently at Argonne National Laboratory [K. Bailey, C.Y. Chen, X. Du, Y.M. Li, Z.-T. Lu, T.P. O'Connor and L. Young, Science 286, 1139 (1999)] employs laser manipulation of the atomic species to be analyzed, i.e. slowing down neutral atoms in a thermal beam by a counter-propagating carefully tuned laser beam, trapping these atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT), and counting individual trapped atoms by laser-induced fluorescence. The slowing-down process and the successive trapping is extremely isotope selective. Since the first excited state of Kr is about 10 eV above the ground state, metastable atoms have to be formed for tuning to a resonance transition.

On the occasion of a research stay for several months, a member of IIK [G. Winkler] could explore the new technique. Employing a dc discharge source to produce the beam of metastable Kr atoms, the overall efficiency (fraction of sample atoms actually detected) was only about 10-7. An efficiency increase by about an order of magnitude - confirmed by laser spectroscopy - could be achieved using a rf-driven discharge [C.Y. Chen, K. Bailey, Y.M. Li, T.P. O'Connor, Z.-T. Lu, X. Du, L. Young and G. Winkler, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 72, 201 (2001)]. A further increase of the efficiency with respect to gas consumption is possible by gas recirculation.

Austrian National Radon Project (ÖNRAP) [H. Friedmann]:

The project aiming at a country-wide survey on radon concentrations in buildings and the radon-dose distribution in Austria is completed. For details see: http://www.univie.ac.at/Kernphysik/oenrap/welcome.htm .

Measurement of 226Ra and 222Rn concentrations in spring waters in Austria (by means of ionisation chambers) is continued routinely.

Conventional radiocarbon dating (up to about 40000 years B.P.): Interdisciplinary co-operation is continued.

5. Work on special reports and standard concepts, training tasks

Co-operation with the Austrian Standards Institute (OENORM) to achieve a uniform interpretation of low-level measurements and to harmonise measurement-uncertainty statements in radiation protection is continued:

a) ÖNORM S 5250-2: Counting statistics in radioactivity measurements - Spectroscopic measurements: defines the requirements for the treatment of uncertainties in spectroscopic measurements, especially for low-level high-resolution spectroscopy. The decision limit and the lower limit of detection is introduced, procedures for single-peak evaluation and for the evaluation of several peaks produced by a specific radioisotope are treated. Criteria for deciding whether a measured quantity is below or above a (e.g. legally) set value are given. Part 3 of the above standard, i.e. ÖNORM S 5250-3, will demonstrate the practical handling of the given rules by examples.

b) OENORM S5280-1: Radon-measurement methods and their range of applications: the first part of an Austrian Standard for indoor radon measurements (for a certification of dwellings) has been prepared.

c) ÖNORM S 5255: Uncertainties of measurements and given limits in radiation protection, principles and examples: deals with input and influence quantities, the evaluation of standard uncertainties and the combination of the various uncertainties including correction factors to obtain a combined uncertainty in the case of calibrated and verified instruments.

8

Finally problems are addressed which arise when measured values with their uncertainties are compared with (e.g. legally) set limiting values.

A review article on "High-efficiency NaI(Tl) detection systems for accurate activity

measurements" (suggested by CCRI, Section II, at the BIPM) is to be finalised [G. Winkler]. Students' training in the field of general experimental physics, quantum physics, atomic

physics, nuclear physics, ion physics and radioactivity measurements is taken care of by the staff of the IIK. 6. Participation in international organisations • International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology (ICRM) [G. Winkler]; • Consultative Committee for Ionising Radiation (CCRI), Section II (Measurement of

Radionuclides) at the BIPM, Sèvres, France [member: G. Winkler]; • Science and Technology Committee, EURATOM [delegate P. Hille]; • Various scientific advisory boards (e.g., the Advisory Board of Radiochimica Acta and the

Advisory Committee for Education in Science of the International Research School on Fundamental and Applied Nuclear and Atomic Physics (FANTOM) [W. Kutschera].

Gerhard Winkler Boltzmanngasse 3, A-1090 Wien; Tel: +43-1-4277-51754, FAX: +43-1-4277-51752 http://www.univie.ac.at/Kernphysik/irk_engl.htm http://www.univie.ac.at/Kernphysik/research/irk_re.htm

9

LABORATORY EC-JRC Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements

NAMES M. Hult.

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Four ultra low background HPGe detectors, placed in the underground laboratory HADES at 225 m below sea level (500 m w.e.).

50 % relative efficiency planar HPGe-detector 8 % relative efficiency semiplanar HPGe-detector 60% relative efficiency coaxial HPGe-detector 106% relative efficiency coaxial HPGe-detector All detectors are placed inside specially designed shields made from electrolytic copper and low activity lead. There is a 5th lead/copper-shield installed. It is designed to house different detectors and can be used e.g. to test detectors for their inherent radioactivity. Ultralow-level gamma-ray spectrometry

RESULTS - Measurement of 232Th daughters in human bones - Measurement of 94Nb in order to determine the natMo(n,x)94Nb neutron cross section. - Impurity measurements of various radioactive substances - Measurements of metals activated by very low neutron flux. This is used for: surveillance, radioprotection, retrospective dosimetry and determination of cosmogenic production rates) - Materials selection for BOREXINO

IN PROGRESS 1.Measurement of 210Pb in human bones and lung cells.

2.Measurement of 60Co in steel samples from Tokai-mura 3.Measurement of 60Co in steel samples from Hiroshima 4.Improving background reduction.

ADDRESS European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements Retieseweg, B-2440 Geel, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)14 57 12 69, Fax.: +32 (0)14 58 42 73, Email: mikael.hult@irmm.jrc.be.

CONTACT Mikael HULT

10

LABORATORY EC-JRC-IRMM JRC Reference Laboratory for Radionuclide Metrology

NAMES S. Pommé, G. Sibbens, T. Altzitzoglou, L. Johansson, T. Szabo, B. Denecke, D.F.G. Reher

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

4π pressurised gas proportional counter windowless 4π CsI(Tl)-sandwich spectrometer two α-particle counters at defined solid angle atmospheric 4πβ-γ coincidence counter pressurised 4πβ-γ coincidence counter 4πγ NaI well counter two secondary standard ionisation chambers two 4π liquid scintillation counters

RESULTS Standardisation of 238Pu (CCRI key comparison). Absolute activity measurement of ion implanted 39Ar in Al foil. Absolute activity measurement of 233U in a 233Pa source.

PUBLICATIONS L. Johansson, G. Sibbens, T. Altzitzoglou, B. Denecke, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56, 199 (2002).

T. Altzitzoglou, B. Denecke, L. Johansson, G. Sibbens, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56, 447 (2002).

M.J. Woods, D.H. Woods, S.A. Woods, L.J. Husband, S.M. Jerome, C. Michotte, G. Ratel, M. Crespo, E. Garcia-Torano, L. Rodriguez, A. Luca, B. Denecke, G. Sibbens, J. Morel, M. Etcheverry, D. Santry, H. Janssen, E. Schönfeld, U. Schötzig, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56, 415 (2002).

IN PROGRESS Introduction of a new single-parameter and a new multi-parameter data acquisition system using Labview and NI cards. Solid angle calculation algorithm.

SOURCE IN PREPARATION

Standardisation of 152Eu. Standardisation of 238Pu. A practical algorithm for the solid angle calculation applied in α-particle counting. Tailoring solid angle calculations to the actual radioactivity distribution of planar sources. Measurement of 39Ar activity for the purpose of a cross section measurement.

ADDRESS EC-JRC-IRMM Retieseweg,B - 2240 Geel, Belgium Tel.: +32 (0)14 57 12 11,Fax: +32 (0)14 58 42 73, +32 (0)14 57 18 64 E-mail: stefaan.pomme@irmm.jrc.be

CONTACT Dr. S. Pommé.

11

LABORATORY EC-JRC-IRMM

JRC Reference Laboratory for Radionuclide Metrology

NAMES G. Sibbens, S. Pommé, T. Altzitzoglou

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

High resolution semiconductor alpha-particle spectrometer

High resolution α-γ coincidence counter

RESULTS Alpha-particle spectrometry analysis of low-level 241Am, 243Am spectra from NIST.

PUBLICATIONS M.J. Woods, D.H. Woods, S.A. Woods, L.J. Husband, S.M. Jerome, C. Michotte, G. Ratel, M. Crespo, E. Garcia-Torano, L. Rodriguez, A. Luca, B. Denecke, G. Sibbens, J. Morel, M. Etcheverry, D. Santry, H. Janssen, E. Schönfeld, U. Schötzig, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56, 415 (2002).

IN PROGRESS Low-level alpha-particle spectrometry of the NIST ocean shellfish reference material. α-γ coincidence measurements of 237Np. 235U source preparation (EUROMET 591).

IN PREPARATION Comparison of analysis algorithms to resolve the 241Am and 243Am alpha peaks.

OTHER RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Zhichao Lin, Anna Berne, Beth Cummings, James J. Filliben, K.G.W. Inn, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56, 57 (2002)

ADDRESS EC-JRC-IRMM Retieseweg B - 2240 Geel, Belgium Tel.: +32 (0)14 57 12 11 Fax: +32 (0)14 58 42 73, +32 (0)14 57 18 64 E-mail: goedele.sibbens@irmm.jrc.be

CONTACT G. Sibbens.

12

(SA1/SA2)

LABORATORY SCK•CEN, Radon in the Indoor Environment

NAMES H. Vanmarcke, J. Paridaens.

ACTIVITY • Assessment of enhanced natural radioactivity • Development of a technique for retrospective radon exposure

assessment (volume traps) • Measurement of radon and radon decay products.

PUBLICATIONS • J. Paridaens, H.Vanmarcke, Z.S.Zunic, J.P.McLaughlin, "Field experience with volume traps for assessing retrospective radon exposures", The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 272/1-3, 295-302, 2001.

• H. Vanmarcke, J. Paridaens, "Radon exposure versus exposure to other sources of ionising radiation", The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 272/1-3, 343-345, 2001.

• H. Vanmarcke, J. Paridaens, "The significance of ICRP, BEIR and UNSCEAR to the radon exposure in Belgium.", 3rd Symposium on Protection against radon, Liège, Belgium, May 10-11, 2001.

• J. Paridaens, H. Vanmarcke, "Evolution of the radon concentration around the radium and actinium waste deposit of Belgoprocess", 3rd Symposium on Protection against radon, Liège, Belgium, May 10-11, 2001.

• J. Paridaens, H. Vanmarcke, "Overview of technologically enhanced natural radioactivity in Flanders", NORM III, Brussels, Belgium, September 17-21, 2001.

ADDRESS Radiation Protection Research Department SCK•CEN Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium Tel: (+32-14) 33 28 29 Fax: (+32-14) 32 10 56 E-mail: hvanmarc@sckcen.be Http://www.sckcen.be/research/radiationprotection/radon/

CONTACT H. Vanmarcke.

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(SA1/SA2) LABORATORY SCK.CEN, Nuclear Chemistry & Services

NAMES L. Vandevelde, M. Gysemans, M. Van Bocxstaele

ACTIVITY Destructive analyses of matrix elements and impurities in fresh and spent nuclear fuels, reactor dosimeters, reactor materials, radioactive wastes and geological samples.

Determination of the isotopic composition of U and Pu, and of the Pu and 241Am concentration in fuels (accredited according ISO17025).

Burn-up analyses of spent fuels.

PUBLICATIONS M. Gysemans, H. Moors. Determination of 75Se, 95Zr, 237Np and 241Am activities in Boom Clay samples from laboratory migration experiments using γ-ray spectrometry, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 53, 209-213 (2000).

IN PROGRESS Development and validation of ICP-MS methods for the analysis of radioactive materials using a nuclearised instrument.

ADDRESS Nuclear Chemistry & Services

SCK•CEN Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium Telephone : (+32-14) 33 32 07 Telecopier : (+32-14) 32 07 55 E-mail : mgyseman@sckcen.be http://www.sckcen.be/research/radiowastecleanup/nuclchem/anal_appl_radiochem.html

CONTACT M. Gysemans.

14

(SA1/SA2)

LABORATORY Laboratório Nacional de Metrologia das Radiações Ionizantes LNMRI/IRD/CNEN

NAMES A. Iwahara, A.E. de Oliveira, C.J. da Silva, D.C. de Barros, E.M.O. Bernardes, J. dos S. Loureiro, J.U. Delgado, L. Tauhata, M.A.R.R. di Prinzio, P.A.L. da Cruz and R. Poledna.

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

4πβ(PPC)-γ(Ge) and 4β(PC)-γ(NaI(Tl)) coincidence systems, 4πγ ionization chambers, HPGe(20), HPGe(40), SiLi, WALLAC liquid scintillation counter. 1- Standardization of 99mTc, 131I, 123I solutions. 2- Traceability program with hospitals..

RESULTS 1- Production of references sources for radiation protection. 2- SIM intercomparison of 131I. 3- Measurements of half-life of 67Ga, 131I, 123I, 99Tcm.

PUBLICATIONS P. A. L. Cruz, J. S. Loureiro and E. M. O . Bernardes, Standardization of a 89Sr solution from a BIPM intercomparison using a LS method, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 56 / 1, 2 (2002) 457 - 459.

C. J. da Silva, A. Iwahara, J.U. Delgado, L. Tauhata, R. Poledna, and R. N. Alves, Absolute determination of activity per mass and half-life measurements of 152Eu, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 56 / 1, 2 (2002) 169 -172.

E. M. B. de Oliveira, J.U. Delgado, L. Tauhata, C. J. da Silva, A. Iwahara, R. Poledna, A.S. Paschoa, 166mHo a multi- γ standard for the calibration of Ge spectrometers, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 56, (2002) 157-161.

J.U. Delgado, J. Morel, M. Etcheverry, Measurements of photon emission probabilities from the decay of 226Ra and daughters, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 56 / 1, 2 (2002) 137 – 143.

A. Iwahara, A. E. de Oliveira, L. Tauhata, C. J. da Silva, C. P. G. da Silva, A. M. S. Braghirolli and R. T. Lopes, Performance of a dose calibrators in Brazilian hospitals for activity measurements, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 / 1, 2 (2002) 489 – 496.

IN PROGRESS Standardization of 57Co

IN PREPARATION

M. A. L. da Silva, M. C. M. de Almeida, J.U. Delgado, Evaluation of the half-lives for different radiopharmaceuticals by means of gamma-ray spectrometry, to be published in Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology.

ADDRESS Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria, Av. Salvador Allende, s/n, Recreio, CEP 22780-160, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tel: ++55 21 3411 8154 ,Fax: ++55 21 2442 1605 E.mail: carlos@ird.gov.br

CONTACT C. J. da Silva

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LABORATORY Laboratorio Nacional de Metrologia das Radiações Ionizantes LNMRI/IRD/CNEN

NAMES M.E.C. Vianna, L. Tauhata, A.E. de Oliveira, A.C.M. Ferreira, Cirilo C.S. Conceição and E.M..O. Bernardes

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Large area proportional counter, well type NaI(Tl) 5x5, HPGe(14) Spike sources of beta, alpha and multi-gamma emitters in water matrix.

RESULTS Comparisons of low-level activity sources of alpha, beta and gamma

emitters with twenty laboratories.

PUBLICATIONS L. Tauhata, M. E. C. Vianna, A. E. de Oliveira, A. C. M. Ferreira,

C. C. S. da Conceição, Metrological capability of the Brazilian laboratories of analyses of radionuclides in environmental samples, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 56 / 1, 2 (2002) 409 414.

IN PROGRESS Samples of sediment and soils taken from Poços de Caldas region in Brazil will be used to produce reference material. Those samples belong to thorium and uranium natural series.

ADDRESS Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria, Av. Salvador Allende, s/n, Recreio, CEP 22780-160, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Tel: ++55 21 3411 8175, Fax: ++55 21 2442 1605 E.mail: tauhata@ird.gov.br

CONTACT L. Tauhata

16

LABORATORY Czech Metrological Institute, Inspectorate for Ionizing

Radiation Prague, Czech Republic NAMES J. Sochorová , M.Havelka, P. Auerbach, L. Plchová, APPARATUS 4π(PC)β-γ coincidence equipment

4π(PPC)X,e-γ coincidence equipment 4π NaI(Tl) detector 4π LS β-γ coincidence equipment

ACTIVITIES Absolute activity measurement.

Routine standardization of 25 radionuclides.

IN PROGRESS Development of software coincidence counting system. ADDRESS ČMI - IIZ

Radiová 1 102 00 Praha 10 Czech Republic tel.: +420 2 66020497 fax: +420 2 66020466 E-mail: pdryak@cmi.cz

CONTACT P. Dryák

17

LABORATORY Czech Metrological Institute, Inspectorate for Ionizing

Radiation, Prague, Czech Republic NAMES P.Dryák, P.Kovář APPARATUS HPGe and Ge(Li) detectors for gamma spectrometry

Si and Si(Li) detectors for alpha and beta spectrometry

Si(Li) detector for X-spectrometry

MCAs CANBERRA S100, AIM 556A

ACTIVITIES Radionuclide impurities measurement

Environmental samples measurement

Standards production control (activity measurement)

Verification, type test and calibration for alpha, beta and gamma spectrometers used in Czech Republic

ADDRESS ČMI - IIZ

Radiová 1 102 00 Praha 10 Czech Republic tel.: +420 2 66020497 fax: +420 2 66020466 E-mail: pdryak@cmi.cz

CONTACT P.Dryák

18

LABORATORY Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Sèvres. NAMES C. Michotte, G. Ratel, C. Colas, M. Nonis APPARATUS 1. Ge(Li) spectrometer (11 %).

2. HPGe detector (XtRa, 20 %).

3. Gas flow 4π PC.

4. LS spectrometer

RESULTS 1. Impurity checks of SIR ampoules (18F, 57Co, 58Co, 110Agm and 139Ce) with the Ge(Li) detector and study of the influence of these results on the SIR measurements.

2. Participation in the 238Pu international comparison of activity measurement, using a proportional counter and liquid-scintillation techniques.

IN PREPARATION C. Michotte, Efficiency curve of the ionization chamber of the SIR,

presented at the ICRM2001 and submitted to Appl. Radiat. and Isot. IN PROGRESS Efficiency calibration of the HPGe spectrometer using Genie 2000 for the data acquisition and Fitzpeaks for the spectrum analysis. A

highly linear and very-low noise Linear Gate is in development. ADDRESS BIPM

Rayonnements ionisants Pavillon de Breteuil F-92312 Sèvres cedex France Telephone: (33-1) 4507 7070 (direct : 7085) Fax: (33-1) 45 34 20 21 e-mail: cmichotte@bipm.org CONTACT C. Michotte

19

LABORATORY Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Sèvres. NAMES C. Michotte, G. Ratel, C. Colas, M. Nonis

ACTIVITY 1. International comparison of activity measurements of 152Eu

2. International comparison of activity measurements of 89Sr

3. International comparison of activity measurements of 238Pu

IN PROGRESS Draft A of the results of the above mentioned comparisons IN PREPARATION G. Ratel, International Comparison of Activity Measurements of a

solution of 75Se, accepted for publication in Nucl. Instr. and Methods ADDRESS BIPM Rayonnements ionisants Pavillon de Breteuil F-92312 Sèvres cedex France Telephone: (33-1) 4507 7070 (direct : 7086) Fax: (33-1) 45 34 20 21 e-mail: gratel@bipm.org CONTACT G. Ratel

20

LABORATORY Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Sèvres. NAMES C. Michotte, G. Ratel, C. Colas, M. Nonis APPARATUS Three-photomultiplier liquid-scintillation spectrometer

RESULTS 1. Tests of the experimental setup

2. Measurements of 14C, 89Sr, 99Tc and 3H samples

3. Improvements of the mechanical design

IN PROGRESS New sofware for the data acquisition ADDRESS BIPM Rayonnements ionisants Pavillon de Breteuil F-92312 Sèvres cedex France Telephone: (33-1) 4507 7070 (direct : 7086) Fax: (33-1) 45 34 20 21 e-mail: gratel@bipm.org CONTACT G. Ratel

21

LABORATORY Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Sèvres. NAMES C. Michotte, G. Ratel, C. Colas, M. Nonis IN PROGRESS SIR Monographie ADDRESS BIPM Rayonnements ionisants Pavillon de Breteuil F-92312 Sèvres cedex France Telephone: (33-1) 4507 7070 (direct : 7086) Fax: (33-1) 45 34 20 21 e-mail: gratel@bipm.org CONTACT G. Ratel

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LABORATORY BNM-Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel

NAMES M.M. Bé, C.Jean, V. Chisté

ACTIVITY Evaluation of Radionuclide Decay Data

RESULTS - a program was developed in order to transfer the data from NUCLÉIDE to ENSDF

- evaluation of 131I and 123I.

PUBLICATIONS E. Browne, M.M. Bé, T. Mac Mahon, R. Helmer

Report on the activities of the Decay Data Evaluation Project, Rapport CEA R-5990(E) (2001)

IN PROGRESS A new volume of the “Table de radionucléides” with the related comments

IN PREPARATION M.M. Bé, J.Morel, E. Schönfeld, Evaluation of 169Yb decay data, Applied Radiation Isotopes 56 (2002) 181-188

M.M. Bé, R. Helmer, V. Chisté, The NUCLÉIDE database for decay data and the “International Decay Data Evaluation Project” (to be published in Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology)

R. Helmer, E. Browne, M.M. Bé, International Decay Data Evaluation Project (to be published in Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology).

OTHER RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Base de données sur les radionucléides à vie longue (RNVL), Rapport du groupe de travail CEA, version 2, Référence DCC 00-965, mars 2001.

ADDRESS DRT/DIMRI/LNHB CEA Saclay F- 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex Tel : 33 1 69 08 46 41 Fax : 33 1 69 08 26 19 E-mail : mmbe@cea.fr .

CONTACT Marie-Martine Bé .

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LABORATORY BNM-Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel

NAMES N. Coursol, J. Bouchard, C. Bobin, P. Cassette, F. Dayras, M.C. Lépy, J. Morel, J.B. Adamo, M.N. Amiot, , J. Plagnard, J. de Sanoit

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

4πβ-γ coincidence counting systems, 3-PMT liquid scintillation counter (TDCR method), 4πγ NaI(Tl) well-type counter, DSA-α counting, intrinsic Ge detectors, calibrated 4π- ionisation chambers Standardisation of radioactive solutions and sources

Participation in international comparisons

Improvement of measurement techniques

RESULTS Standardisation of radioactive solutions : 3H, 18F, 110Agm, 51Cr, 65Zn, 85Kr, 152Eu, 238Pu and 222Rn

Participation in SIR : 110Agm, 85Kr

Participation in CCRI(II) international comparison : 152Eu, 238Pu

Incorporation of a liquid scintillation system in the β channel of the 4πβ-γ coincidence counting systems and complete processing of the γ spectra (coincident, non coincident)

PUBLICATIONS V. Tsoupko-Sitnikov, J.L. Picolo, M. Carrier, S. Peulon, G. Moutard, A nouvel method for large-area sources preparation for the calibration of β- and α- contamination monitors, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 21-29

D. Stanga, J.L. Picolo, N. Coursol, K. Mitev, I. Moreau, Analytical calculations of counting losses in internal gas proportional, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 231-236

J. Bouchard, A new set of electronic modules (NIM standard) for a coincidence system using the pulse mixing method, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 267-273

V.M. Gorozhankin, N. Coursol, E.A. Yakushev, Ts. Vylov, C. Briançon, New features of the IC(4) code and comparison of internal conversion coefficient calculations, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 189-197

M.J. Woods, et al , Standardization and decay data of 237Np, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 415-420

24

IN PROGRESS Measurement of alpha-particle emission probabilities of 235U

Study of the influence of the geometry and components in the response of ionisation chambers (simulation using various codes)

Characterization of a gamma-ray device for low-level measurements

Quality insurance system based on ISO 17025

Participation in CCRI(II) international comparison : 204Tl, 65Zn, 32P, 241Am

ADDRESS DRT/DIMRI/LNHB CEA Saclay F- 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex Tel : 33 1 69 08 27 78 Fax : 33 1 69 08 26 19 Email : nelcy.coursol@cea.fr .

CONTACT N. Coursol

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LABORATORY BNM – Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel

NAMES E. Leblanc, P. Cassette, J. Bouchard

APPARATUS Cryogenic detectors

RESULTS Development of a 4-π geometry detection bolometer prototype with detection efficiency greater than 99 % for photons and electrons between 100 eV and 6.5 keV.

PUBLICATIONS “A new absolute method for the standardization of radionuclides emitting low energy radiation”, Applied Radiation Isotopes, 56 (2002) 245-251

IN PROGRESS Improvement of energy detection threshold of a bolometer for activity measurements.

OTHER RELATED PUBLICATIONS

“Cryogenic sources for low temperature detector characterization”, "Low Temperature Detectors", Eds. AIP, Conference Proceedings Vol. 605.

ADDRESS DRT/DIMRI/LNHB CEA Saclay F- 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex Tel : 33 1 69 08 23 32 Fax : 33 1 69 08 26 19 E-mail : Elvire.Leblanc@cea.fr

CONTACT Elvire Leblanc

26

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LABORATORY BNM- Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel

NAMES M.C. Lépy, J. Plagnard.

ACTIVITY X-ray spectrometry

RESULTS Efficiency and peak shape calibration of Si(Li) and HPGE detectors in the 1-10 keV energy range

Detailed processing of low-energy X-ray spectra

PUBLICATIONS M.C. Lépy et al., Applied Radiation and Isotopes Vol.55, n° 4 (October 2001) 493-503.

IN PROGRESS Characterization of a tunable monochromatic X-ray source to be used for efficiency calibration of detectors in the 1-20 keV energy range

Tests of the ETNA code (efficiency transfer and coincidence summing corrections for gamma-ray spectrometry)

ADDRESS DRT/DIMRI/LNHB CEA Saclay F- 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex Tel : 33 1 69 08 24 48 Fax : 33 1 69 08 26 19 E-mail : marie-christine.lepy@cea.fr

CONTACT Marie-Christine Lépy

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LABORATORY BNM-Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel

NAMES J. Morel, C. Collin

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

γ-ray measurements and development of non-destructive X- and γ-ray spectrometry methods Calibrated HPGe, NaI(Tl), CdZnTe detectors with standard electronics and computers

RESULTS Influence of nuclear data on uranium enrichment results obtained by XKα spectral region analysis Measurement of photon emission probabilities for 169Yb, 237Np and 233Pa, and daughters of 226Ra

Characterization of digital signal processor systems

PUBLICATIONS J. Morel, D. Clark and ESARDA NDA-WG members, Influence of nuclear data on uranium enrichment results obtained by XKα spectral region analysis , Appl. Radiat. Isot., 56 (2002), 85-91

J.U. Delgado, J. Morel and M. Etcheverry, Measurements of photons emission probabilities from the decay of 226Ra and daughters, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56, (2002),137-143

A. Luca, S. Sepman, K. Iakovlev, G. Shchukin, M. Etcheverry and J. Morel, Emission probabilities of KX-rays following the 237Np in equilibrium with 233Pa, Appl. Radiat. Isot., 56 (2002), 173-180

N. Reguigui, J. Morel, H Ben Kraiem and A. Mahjoub, Characterization of three digital signal processor systems used in gamma ray spectrometry, Appl. Radiat. Isot.,56, (2002), 93-97

G. Shchukin, V.V. Fedorov, A.M. Hejdelman, K.P. Yakovlev, J. Morel and M. Etcheverry, The semi-empirical full-response functions of semiconductors, their dependence on source designs and influence on low-energy photon intensities, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A-474 (2001), 46

IN PROGRESS - Realization of a U and Pu ESARDA spectra data bank

- With IRMM, synthesis of the ESARDA international exercise “Pu-2000” results concerning the Pu isotopic abundance determination

- With VNIIM and KhRI, determination of the γ-ray emission probabilities for 226Ra daughters and 154Eu

- With IFIN, study of the decay scheme of 65Zn

28

- National symposium « Journées de spectrométrie γ et X- 2002 » 15-17 October, 2002

ADDRESS DRT/DIMRI/LNHB CEA Saclay F- 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex Tel : 33 1 69 08 41 48 Fax : 33 1 69 08 26 19

Email : jean.morel@cea.fr .

CONTACT J. Morel

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LABORATORY BNM-Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel

NAMES G. Moutard, M.G. Iroulart, I. Le Garrérès

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Calibrated HPGe, NaI(Tl), Liquid scintillation counters, Well-type Ionisation chamber with standard electronics and computers

Organisation of national and international interlaboratory comparisons in the field of activity measurements.

An opened intercomparison program is proposed every year by BNM-LNHB

RESULTS The program for the year 2001 was :

- Activity measurement of a solution of 131I (about 370MBq)

- Activity measurement of 239Pu solutions (about 800 kBq/g, 40 Bq/g, 4 Bq/g, 4 Bq/kg)

- Determination of gamma emission rates and activity measurement of 56Co solutions (about 800 kBq/g and 40 Bq/g).

- Measurement by gamma spectrometry of the activity concentration in a solution containing several radionuclides (about 800 kBq/g, 40 Bq/g, 1 Bq/g)

IN PROGRESS The proposed program for the year 2002 is:

- Activity measurement of a solution of 99Tcm (about 370MBq)

- Activity measurement of 90Sr + 90Y solutions (about 800 kBq/g, 40 Bq/g, 4 Bq/g)

- Activity measurement of tritiated water solutions (about 40 kBq/g, 4 Bq/g)

- Determination of gamma emission rates and activity measurement of 152Eu solutions (about 800 kBq/g, 40 Bq/g and 4 Bq/g).

- Measurement by gamma spectrometry of the activity concentration in solutions containing several radionuclides (about 20 kBq/g, 1 Bq/g)

ADDRESS DRT/DIMRI/LNHB CEA-Saclay F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France Tel. 33 1 69 08 43 75 Fax. 33 1 69 08 26 19

E-Mail. gerard.moutard@cea.fr .

CONTACT G. Moutard

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LABORATORY Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt NAMES A. Honig, E. Gargioni, A. Paul APPARATUS Climate control of the radon reference chamber of the PTB. Calibration of active radon monitors. Exposition of passive dosimeters. RESULTS c(222Rn) from 1 kBq/m3 to 100 kBq/m3, F from 0.1 to 1.0, fp from

0.01 to 0.9. PUBLICATIONS S. Röttger, A. Paul, A. Honig, U. Keyser: On-line low- and medium-

level measurement of the radon activity concentration. In: Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res., 2001, A 466, p. 475-481

A. Paul, A. Honig, E. Gargioni, S. Röttger: Study of the short-lived radon progenies at the German radon reference chamber. In: Proceedings of the third Eurosymposium on protection against RADON, 2001, Liège

E. Gargioni, A. Paul, A. Honig: A reference field for measurements of thoron activity concentrations. In: Proceedings of the third Eurosymposium on protection against RADON, 2001, Liège

IN PROGRESS Installation of a Radon flow-through gas-source ADDRESS Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Section 6.12 Bundesallee 100, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.: +49-531-592-6103, fax: +49-531-592-6305 E-mail: Anja.Honig@ptb.de CONTACT Anja Honig

31

LABORATORY Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt NAMES E. Gargioni, A. Honig, A. Paul and T. Reich APPARATUS Calibration facility for measuring of thoron (220Rn) and its progenies. RESULTS Thoron reference fields with activity concentrations ranging from 1

to 10 kBq/m3 can be produced in a 0.05 m3 reference chamber with an overall uncertainty to 10 %.

PUBLICATIONS E. Gargioni, A. Paul and A. Honig: A Reference Field for

Measurements of Thoron Activity Concentration, Proc. 3rd Eurosymposium on Protection against Radon, Liège (Belgium) 75-80 (2001).

IN PROGRESS Simulation of the spatial distribution of thoron and its progenies in

the reference chamber. Characterisation of the sampling modality. ADDRESS Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Section 6.12 Bundesallee 100, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.: +49-531-592-6102, fax: +49-531-592-8525 E-mail: Elisabetta.Gargioni@ptb.de CONTACT Elisabetta Gargioni

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LABORATORY Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt NAMES A. Honig, E. Gargioni, A. Paul and T. Reich APPARATUS Radon reference chamber of the PTB. Production and measurement of radon reference atmospheres. RESULTS c(222Rn) from 1 kBq/m3 to 100 kBq/m3 , F from 0.1 to 1.0, fp from 0.01 to 0.9. PUBLICATIONS S. Röttger, A. Paul, A. Honig, U. Keyser: On-line low- and medium-

level measurement of the radon activity concentration. In: NIM A, 2001, A 466, p. 475-481

A. Paul, et. al.: Study of the short-lived radon progenies at the German radon reference chamber. In: Proc. of the third Eurosymp. on protection against RADON, 2001, Liège

E. Gargioni, et. al.: A reference field for measurements of thoron activity concentrations. In: Proc. of the third Eurosymposium on protection against RADON, 2001, Liège

IN PROGRESS International intercomparison for the radon activity concentration. 9

participants from 7 nations. INFORMATION Calculation of isotope coefficient for determination of F and fp

according to the GUM. IN PREPARATION G. Butterweck, Ch. Schuler, A. Paul, A. Honig, R. Dersch, V.

Schmidt, P. Hamel, H. Buchröder, A. Rox, W. Herzog: Intercomparison exercise of the PTB, BfS, MPA and PSI calibration facilities for radon gas concentration. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, in print, 2002.

ADDRESS Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Section 6.12 Bundesallee 100, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.: +49-531-592-6104, fax: +49-531-592-8525 E-mail: Annette.Paul@ptb.de CONTACT Annette Paul

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LABORATORY Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt NAMES D. Arnold, S. Neumaier APPARATUS HPGe well-type detector, HPGe coaxial detectors (n- and p-type) for

γ-ray spectrometry of environmental samples, Underground laboratory UDO at a depth of 925 m in the ASSE salt mine.

ACTIVITY Monte Carlo calculations for the determination of self-attenuation

corrections, coincidence-summing corrections and efficiency transfer in collaboration with O. Sima, Bucharest University, Romania.

RESULTS Transfer of the energy specific calibration curve from a calibrated

geometry to various other geometries. Measurement of very low Al-26 activities in meteorite samples.

PUBLICATIONS Arnold, D.; Sima, O.: Total versus effective total efficiency in the

computation of coincidence summing corrections in gamma-ray spectrometry of volume sources. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Vol. 248 No. 2 (2001), S. 365-370.

Sima, O.; Arnold, D.; Dovlete, C.: GESPECOR – A versatile tool in gamma-ray spectrometry. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry.

Sima, O.; Arnold: Transfer of the efficiency calibration of germanium gamma-ray detectors using the GESPECOR software. Appl. Radiat. Isot. Vol. 56 No. 1-2 (2002), S. 71-75.

Arnold, D.; S. Neumaier, Sima, O.: Deep underground gamma-spectrometry measurement of Al-26 in meteorite samples. Appl. Radiat. Isot. Vol. 56 No. 1-2 (2002), S. 405-408.

ADDRESS Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Section 6.12

Bundesallee 100, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.:+49-531-592-6120 fax: +49-531-592-6109 E-Mail: Dirk.Arnold@ptb.de

CONTACT Dirk Arnold

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LABORATORY National Office of Measures (OMH), Radiation Physics Section

NAMES Á. Szörényi, L. Szücs, A. Zsinka

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

γ-spectrometer with semiconductor detectors (HPGe REGe coaxial and HPGe planar), 4π (X,e)-γ absolute activity measurements system (pressurized proportional counter, Nal(Tl) crystal), 4πγ calibrated ionization chamber, IBM PC computer.

Participation in EUROMET action no 410. 169Yb standardisation and photon emission rate measurement

RESULTS Our results will be in the final report of the project. Some preliminary measured values : Energy [keV] Photon emission Uncertainty probability [%] [%-1σ] 49.8 50.97 1.9

50.7 90.11 1.6

63.1 43.1 0.5

93.6 2.64 1.7

109.8 17.37 2.0

130.5 10.91 1.7

177.2 22.39 0.5

198.0 35.49 1.1

240.3 0.118 2.3

ADDRESS National Office of Measures 1535 Budapest Hungary

Tel : + 36 1 35 67 722 , Fax : + 36 1 2120 147

CONTACT L. Szücs

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LABORATORY Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

NAMES R. Nathuram, Leena Joseph, Anuradha R.

APPARATUS 1. 4πβ(P) γ(NaI) coincidence system. 2. Calibrated 4π Gamma Ion Chamber. 3. HPGe detector assembly for γ-ray spectrometry.

ACTIVITY 1. Participating in international intercomparison programmes of activity measurements organized by BIPM, APMP etc.

2. Standardization of radioactive sources and solutions. 3. Organizing national intercomparison of activity

measurements of 131I for Nuclear Medicine Centres in the country.

4. Gamma ray spectroscopy and activity measurement. 5. Calibration of a new Gamma Ion Chamber.

RESULTS 1. Conducted national intercomparison of activity measurements of 131I (47 Nuclear Medicine Centres participated).

2. Standardized sources of 137Cs, 60Co, 131I, 241Am etc. for the users.

PUBLICATIONS “International Intercomparison of Activity Measurements

of Co-58 and Y-88”, Leena Joseph, Anuradha R., Nathuram R. and V.V. Shaha, National Symposium on Radiation Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Nov 1-3, 2001.

IN PROGRESS 1. Calibration of a new Gamma Ion Chamber set up. 2. Standardization of 54Mn for SIR.

ADDRESS Head, Radiation Standards Section, RSS Division, BARC, Mumbai 400085, India. Tel: +91 22 5595074 Fax: +91 22 5505151 e-mail: vvshaha@apsara.barc.ernet.in

CONTACT V.V. Shaha

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LABORATORY Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

NAMES U.V. Phadnis, V. Sathian, G. Shobha

APPARATUS - Manganese Sulphate Bath System.

- Standard Thermal Neutron Assembly in Graphite

- Precision Long Counter.

- Multi-spheres for spectroscopy.

- 4π polythene assembly. - Activation foils (Threshold detectors).

- He-3 based thermal neutron fluence rate measuring system.

- Neutron rem counter.

ACTIVITY - Standardization of radioactive neutron sources.

- Standardization of fluence rate and dose rate.

- Calibration of neutron monitors.

- R&D work associated with neutron standards.

RESULTS - Neutron sources were standardized for various users.

- Neutron fluence rate and dose rate were standardized for various users.

- Many neutron monitors were calibrated.

PUBLICATIONS - “Evaluation of Radiological Parameters of Neutron Sources Useful for Calibration of Neutron Monitors”, V. Sathian, U.V. Phadnis and V.V. Shaha, Bulletin of Radiation Protection, Vol. 24 (Proceedings of International Conference conducted by IARP, Mumbai, Feb. 2001).

IN PROGRESS - Development of Neutron Spectrometer.

INFORMATION Fast neutron source yield and the thermal neutron fluence rate can be taken up for international intercomparison.

ADDRESS Head, Radiation Standards Section, RSS Division, BARC, Mumbai 400085, India. Tel: +91 22 5595074, Fax: +91 22 5505151 e-mail: vvshaha@apsara.barc.ernet.in

CONTACT V.V. Shaha

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LABORATORY ENEA - Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti – Italy

NAMES M. Capogni, P. De Felice, C. Ivan*, M. Sahagia*, L. Grigorescu*

* IFIN-HH Bucharest

APPARATUS 4πβ-γ, 4πγ and LS (CIEMAT/NIST) counting equipments

ACTIVITY Standardisation of Tl-204, Am-241, Zn-65, P-32, Mn-54 and Ir-192 for BIPM intercomparisons

IN PROGRESS Investigation into theoretical problems identified with the standardisations of these radionuclides. Study of experimental aspects concerning source preparation and measurement procedures.

ADDRESS ENEA

Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti Centro Ricerche Casaccia P.0.Box 2400 - Roma (Italy) Phone: +39 06 30483580 Fax: +39 06 30483558 E-mail: defelice@casaccia.enea.it

CONTACT P. De Felice

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LABORATORY ENEA - Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti – Italy

NAMES M. Capogni, P. De Felice

APPARATUS Liquid scintillation counting equipment

ACTIVITY Experimental study on the use of a commercial liquid scintillation counting system (with Ciemat/Nist method) to develop a high stability/precision transfer standard for BIPM/SIR extension to pure beta emitters.

IN PROGRESS The stability of a Packard Tricarb LSC system is continuously monitored with high stability H-3 and C-14 sources.

ADDRESS ENEA Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti Centro Ricerche Casaccia P.0.Box 2400 - Roma (Italy) Phone: +39 06 30483580 Fax: +39 06 30483558 E-mail: defelice@casaccia.enea.it

CONTACT P. De Felice

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LABORATORY ENEA - Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti – Italy

NAMES P. De Felice, J. Vaupotic*

* J. Stefan Institute, Ljubljana (guest)

APPARATUS Radon chambers

ACTIVITY Calibration of passive and active radon monitors in radon chamber. Development of a new walk-in radon chamber.

IN PROGRESS A new radon chamber (about 30 m3) is under construction for the organisation of calibration and intercomparison campaigns on radon measurements for the national environmental radioactivity surveillance network.

ADDRESS ENEA Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti Centro Ricerche Casaccia P.0.Box 2400 - Roma (Italy) Phone: +39 06 30483580, Fax: +39 06 30483558

E-mail: defelice@casaccia.enea.it

CONTACT P. De Felice

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LABORATORY Nagoya University

NAMES H. Miyahara, N. Marnada, K. Fujiki, K. Katoh APPARATUS 1. 4πβ(ppc)-γ(HPGe) coincidence apparatus using a live-timed two-

dimensional data-acquisition system. 2. Coincidence apparatus using a live-timed two-dimensional data-acquisition system consisted of a 4πβ (pc) using atmospheric pressure of CF4 gas and an HPGe detector. 3. γ(HPGe)-γ(HPGe) coincidence system using two-parameter data acquisition system. 4. γ-ray spectrometry system

RESULTS 1. The emission probability for the 328.5 keV γ-rays of 194Ir was measured to be 0.1328(8) by using the above apparatus 1.

2. Precise measurement of the relative γ-ray intensities of 72Ga and 56Mn using the above apparatus 4.

3. The emission probabilities of 152Eu were measured very precisely by using the above apparatuses 1 and 4.

4. The emission probability for the 543.0 keV γ-rays of 199Pt was measured to be 0.1189(5) by using the above apparatus 2.

PUBLICATIONS 1. Precise Emission Probabilities of Gamma-rays of 159Gd, Nada

Marnada et al., Appl. Radiat. and Isot., 54 (2001) 695.

2. Development of Two-dimensional Data-acquisition Apparatus Using 8 mm Data Cartridge for 4πβγ Coincidence Measurement, H. Miyahara et al., J. Nucl. Sci. and Technol., 38 (2001) 270.

3. Application of γ-γ Coincidence Measurement to Human Counter Using Ge Detectors (1) [in Japanese], H. Miyahara et al., Radioisotopes, 50 (2001) 155.

IN PROGRESS 1. Measurement of the γ-ray emission probabilities of 147Eu and

66Ga that are proton-rich nuclei.

2. Accurate measurements of relative and absolute γ-ray intensities using precise detection efficiency curve with uncertainty of 0.1% for an HPGe detector.

3. Direct measurement of intake radioactivity by γ-γ coincidence method.

IN PREPARATION 1. Determination of Precise Gamma-ray Emission Probabilities for

88Rb, H. Miyahara et al., to be published in Appl. Radiat. and Isot.

41

2. Determination of the Emission Probabilities of the Principal γ- rays for 134Cs to a High Precision, H. Miyahara et al., to be published in Appl. Radiat. and Isot.

3. Application of γ-γ Coincidence Measurement to Human Counter Using Ge Detectors (2) [in Japanese], H. Miyahara et al., to be published in Radioisotopes.

4. Production of 147Eu for Gamma-ray Emission Probability Measurement, K. Katoh et al., to be published in J. Nucl. Sci. and Technol.

5. Gamma-Ray Emission Probabilities of 193Os, Nada Marnada et al., to be published in Nucl. Instr. and Meth.

ADDRESS Department of Radiological Technology School of Health Sciences, Nagoya University 1-1-20 Daikominami, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, 461-8673 JAPAN Telephone 81-52-719-1548 Facsimile 81-52-719-1506 E-mail miyahara@met.nagoya-u.ac.jp CONTACT H. Miyahara

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LABORATORY National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST)

NAMES Yoshio HINO, Yasushi SATO

APPARATUS 4πβ(pc)-γ(NaI) and 4πβ(ppc)-γ(Ge) coincidence systems, Calibrated 4πγ ionisation chamber, HP-Ge and Si(Li) detectors, Liquid scintillation system, Imaging analyser system, PIPS for α counting and 2π multi wire chamber.

RESULTS 1. Contribution to the SIR for 67Ga and 111In sources which were measured for domestic comparisons in the Japan Medical Radio-pharmacy Society.

2. Inter-comparison of β-emitting rate from 36Cl large area source with NIST, INER, KRISS, PTB and CSIR.

PUBLICATIONS Y. Hino, Results from APMP comparisons on radioactivity measurements of 58Co, 88Y and 166mHo, presented at ICRM 2001 and to be published in Appl. Radiat. Isotopes..

IN PROGRESS 1. To practice the idea of “portability of the calibration factors of ionisation chambers” between several APMP laboratories using 166mHo reference sources.

2. Try to make low activity standard area sources for imaging plate.

3. Prepare 192Ir sources for full scale CCRI-II comparison.

4. Setting up the TDCR LS-system and will take part in the comparison of 204Tl and

ADDRESS Radioactivity and Neutron Standardization Section, Quantum Radiation Division, AIST Tsukuba central-2 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8568 JAPAN Tel.: (+81) 298 61 5667, Fax.: (+81) 298 61 5673 E-mail : y.hino@aist.go.jp, Web: http://www.aist.go.jp

CONTACT Yoshio HINO

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LABORATORY Radioisotope Centre POLATOM, Metrological Laboratory of Radioactive Materials

NAMES R. BRODA.

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

3-PMT liquid scintillation counter.

Theoretical calculation of the counting efficiency of the triple LS-detector. Investigation of dependence of the ionisation quenching parameter kB on the liquid scintillator composition using the TDCR method(in co-operation with BNM-LNHB laboratory).

Participation in the 238Pu intercomparison organised by BIPM.. Participation in the ICRM'2001 conference and in the 16th CCRI(II) meeting

RESULTS Standardisation of the 51Cr and 32P solutions.

Scientific visit in the LNHB. It was shown that the kB parameter value is independent on composition of investigated LS-cocktails (kB=0.012+-0.002 cm/MeV). In case of significant PM-tubes anisotropy in a triple detector, three different figure of merit should be taken into account

PUBLICATIONS R. Broda, P. Cassette, T. Terlikowska, K. Maletka, Study of the influence of the LS-cocktail composition for the standardisation of radionuclides using the “TDCR model", Appl. Radiat. Isot., Vol.56, 2002, pp.285-289.

A. Chylinski, R. Broda, T. Radoszewski (2001), The National Standard of Radionuclide Activity Unit, (in Polish), Postepy Techniki Jadrowej, Vol. 44. Z. 2.

IN PROGRESS Computing program for application of the TDCR method for standardisation of EC-emitters. Accreditation of the Metrological Laboratory

IN PREPARATION R. Broda, Establishing of the National Standard of Radionuclide Activity Unit in Poland, Pomiary Automatyka Robotyka, (in Polish)

R. Broda, Rudiments and present of the TDCR method

ADDRESS Radioisotope Centre POLATOM 05-400 Otwock-Swierk, POLAND Tel: (48 22) 718 07 21, fax: (48 22) 718 03 50 e-mail: rbroda@cyf.gov

CONTACT Ryszard BRODA

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LABORATORY Radioisotope Centre POLATOM, Metrological Laboratory of Radioactive Materials

NAMES A. CHYLINSKI

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

4pi(LS)-gamma coincidence and anticoincidence system

Elaboration of paralleled simultaneous system with coincidence, anticoincidence and multiparametric methods for standardisation of radionuclides. Participation in the BIPM intercomparison of the radioactivity

RESULTS New generation of standard sources with increased accuracy..

PUBLICATIONS A. Chylinski, T. Terlikowska, R. Broda, T. Radoszewski, Multi-method of standardisation of radionuclides with triple scheme of disintegration, Appl. Radiat. Isot., Vol.56, 2002, pp.282-284

A. Chylinski, R. Broda, T. Radoszewski (2001) The National Standard of Radionuclide Activity Unit, (in Polish), Postepy Techniki Jadrowej, Vol. 44. Z. 2.

IN PROGRESS Participation in the BIPM intercomparison of 204Tl activity.

ADDRESS Radioisotope Centre POLATOM 05-400 Otwock-Swierk, POLAND Tel: (48 22) 718 07 18, fax: (48 22) 779 73 81 e-mail: anchyl@cyf.gov.pl

CONTACT Andrzej CHYLINSKI.

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LABORATORY Radioisotope Centre POLATOM, Metrological Laboratory of Radioactive Materials

NAMES K. MALETKA

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Gamma spectrometer with HPGe and Ge(Li) semi-conductor detectors, 3-PMT liquid scintillation counter.

Measurements of gamma-emitting impurities in different radioactive materials.

Theoretical calculations of the counting efficiency of the triple LS detector.

Participation in the 13th ICRM'2001 –conference, May 14 - 18, 2001 Braunschweig.

IN PROGRESS Preparation of a quality assurance system in the laboratory

for accreditation. Preliminary study of the influence of emulsion in LSC detector on the uncertainty of TDCR method.

ADDRESS Radioisotope Centre POLATOM 05-400 Otwock-Swierk, POLAND Tel: (48 22) 718 07 21, fax: (48 22) 718 03 50 e-mail: k.maletka@cyf.gov

CONTACT Krzysztof Maletka

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LABORATORY Radioisotope Centre POLATOM, Metrological Laboratory of Radioactive Materials

NAMES T. RADOSZEWSKI

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Consultant for the Radionuclide Metrology in the RC POLATOM.

Elaboration of the system of coincidence, anticoincidence and multiparametric methods for standardisation of radionuclides.

RESULTS New generation of standard sources with increased accuracy.

PUBLICATIONS A. Chylinski, T. Terlikowska, R. Broda, T. Radoszewski, Multi-method of standardisation of radionuclides with triple scheme of disintegration, Appl. Radiat. Isot., Vol.56, 2002, pp.281-284

A.Chylinski, R. Broda, T. Radoszewski (2001) The National Standard of Radionuclide Activity Unit, (in Polish), Postepy Techniki Jadrowej, Vol. 44. Z. 2.

ADDRESS Radioisotope Centre POLATOM

05-400 Otwock-Swierk, POLAND Tel: (48 22) 718 07 48, fax: (48 22) 718 03 50 e-mail: rbroda@cyf.gov..

CONTACT Tomasz RADOSZEWSKI

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LABORATORY Radioisotope Centre POLATOM, Metrological Laboratory of Radioactive Materials

NAMES T. TERLIKOWSKA-DROZDZIEL

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Beta spectrometer Wallac 1411

Activity determinations of beta - pure emitters and alpha-emitters using LSC-method. Participation in the 239Pu intercomparisons organised by BIPM with CIEMAT/NIST method. Preparations of the standard sources and solutions

RESULTS Good agreement of activity measurement results obtained by

the CIEMAT/NIST method and other absolute LSC-methods has been obtained.

PUBLICATIONS R. Broda, P. Cassette, T. Terlikowska, K. Maletka, Study of the influence of the LS-cocktail composition for the standardisation of radionuclides using the “TDCR model", Appl. Radiat. Isot., Vol.56, 2002, pp.285-289.

A.Chylinski, T. Terlikowska, R. Broda, T. Radoszewski, Multi-method of standardisation of radionuclides with triple scheme of desintegration, Appl. Radiat. Isot., Vol.56, 2002, pp.281-284

ADDRESS Radioisotope Centre POLATOM

05-400 Otwock-Swierk, POLAND Tel: (48 22) 718 07 22, fax: (48 22) 718 03 50 e-mail: terl@cyf.gov.pl.

CONTACT Teresa TERLIKOWSKA-DROZDZIEL

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LABORATORY National Radiation Standard Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (NRSL/INER)

NAMES Ming-Chen Yuan, Jyi-Lan Wuu

APPARATUS 4πβ(pc)-γ(NaI) coincidence systems, calibrated 4πγ ionisation chamber, HP-Ge, and large area windowless proportional counter.

RESULTS . Activity measurement comparison with AIST for 67Ga and 111In sources.

. β-emitting rate measurement comparison with AIST for 36Cl large area source.

. Join the 18F comparison program organized by NPL.

PUBLICATIONS .M.C. Yuan, J.H. Lee, W.S. Hwang, The absolute counting of 166Hom, 58Co and 88Y, Appl. Radiat. Isotopes, 52 (2002) 249-434

.J.L. Wuu, M.C. Yuan, S.H. Su, W.S. Hwang, The alpha and beta emitter measurement system in INER, Appl. Radiat. Isotopes, 52 (2002) 261-264

IN PROGRESS . Join the “portability of the calibration factors of ionisation chambers” program organized by AIST.

. Standardization of 201Tl.

. Setting up IG11/N20 ion chamber.

ADDRESS Health Physics Division, INER P.O. Box 3-10, Lungtan 325, Taiwan, Republic of China Tel.: 886-3-4714088, Fax.: 886-3-4714132 E-mail : mcyuan@iner.gov.tw

CONTACT Ming-Chen Yuan

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LABORATORY: NAME: APARATUS: ACTIVITY: ADDRESS: CONTACT:

IFIN-HH, Radionuclide Metrology Group E.L.Grigorescu, Maria Sahagia, Anamaria Cristina Razdolescu, A. Luca 4πPC beta-gamma system Standardization by a coincidence method of 48V, utilised in nuclear medicine. Institutul National de Cercetare Dezvoltare pentru Fizica si Inginerie Nucleara –Horia Hulubei, IFIN-HH,CPR, PO Box MG-6, Magurele, ROMANIA Tel (401) 404 23 00/4505, 4517 Fax (401) 423 17 01 or (401) 789 62 95 e-mail: elgrigorescu@yahoo.com E.L.Grigorescu

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LABORATORY: Institutul National de C&D pentru Fizica Si Inginerie Nucleara “Horia Hulubei”, IFIN-HH

NAMES M. Sahagia

PLANNED PROGRAM FOR 2002- SA1-SA2

1. Standardization of 48V.

2. Participation to the tritiated water international comparison

3. Standardization of tritiated water by internal gas counting using the tritium generator.

4. Participation to 3- BIPM international comparison for 65Zn, 204Tl and 241Am.

5. Participation with papers to the HIPAN Conference organized at Neptun, Romania by the European Center of Excellence (section IDRANAP).

6. Analyses of environmental and technological samples.

7. Issue of standards upon request.

Development in collaboration with LNHB of a computer programme for testing different simulation methods of the gamma and X-rays spectra

8. Standardization of 153Sm.

9. Improvement of a liquid scintillator TDCR system by using a special MAC-3 module (LNHB)

10. Tests for a Tritium generator

11. The IFIN-HH IG12 ionization chamber was calibrated in PTB-Braunschweig- and the results compared with those obtained in IFIN-HH.

12. Different types of samples (environmental, raw materials, technological liquids, decontamination etc) were analised by high resolution gamma-spectrometry.

13. Issue of standards: 60Co, 90(Sr+Y), 131I, 133BA, 134Cs, 137Cs, 152Eu, 241Am.

14. Six papers were presented at ICRM-2001 Conference in Braunschweig.

Extended collaboration were realised with BNM-LNHB concerning tritium measurements. ADDRESS IFIN-HH Str. Atomistilor 407, Com. Magurelle, jud Ilfov P.O. Box MG-6 76900 Bucuresti CONTACT Maria Sahagia

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LABORATORY Radionuclide Data Centre, V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute

NAMES V.P.Chechev, N.K.Kuzmenko

ACTIVITY Evaluation of decay data for 57Co, 129I, 155Eu.

RESULTS For 155Eu the probability of the β− transition to the ground state of 155Gd has been evaluated as 0.166±0.011

PUBLICATIONS V.P.Chechev. Half-lives of the radionuclides used in nuclear geochronology and cosmochronology, Yadernye Konstanty (Nuclear Constants) 1 (2001) 108.

Huang Xiaolong, Zhou Chunmei, Zhuang Youxiang, Zhao Zhixiang, Golashvili T.V. and Chechev V.P. WWW chart of the nuclides.- Communication of Nucl. Data Progress. 24 (2000) 144

IN PROGRESS Evaluation of 154Eu decay data

OTHER RELATED PUBLICATIONS

V.P. Chechev. Measurements of KX- and γ-rays and decay data evaluation for some applied radionuclides at V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute from MITO-1988 to TSUKUBA-2001.- International conference on nuclear data for science and technology. Oct. 7-12, 2001. Abstracts, ND2001. Tsukuba. 11P2(35).

ADDRESS V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute 28 Second Murinsky Ave. 194021 St.Petersburg, RUSSIA Telephone : 7(812)2473706, Fax :7(812)2478095 E-mail : chechev@atom.nw.ru

CONTACT V.P. Chechev

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LABORATORY: D.I.Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM)

NAMES:

T.E.Sazonova, M.A.Rasko, S.V.Sepman, A.V.Zanevsky, I.A.Kharitonov, T.I.Shilnikova, A.E.Kochin

APPARATUS: 1. 4πβ-γ and KX-γ-coincidence counting systems

2. 4πβ-counting system.

RESULTS: Participation in the CCRI(II) key comparison of activity measurements of 238Pu;

IN PROGRESS: Participation in the CCRI(II) key comparison (65Zn, 241Am, 204Tl) and the BIPM comparisons (137Cs, 60Co).

ADDRESS VNIIM, 19 Moskovsky pr., St.Petersburg 198005, Russia Phone: (812) 251-45-55 Fax: (812) 113-01-14 E-mail: info2101@vniim.ru

CONTACT: T.E. Sazonova

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LABORATORY: D.I.Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM)

NAMES: M.A.Rasko, E.E.Tereshchenko, A.V.Zanevsky,

N.I.Karmalitsyn

APPARATUS: Calibrated gamma- and X-ray spectrometers; 4πγ-counting system with NaI(Tl) detector.

RESULTS: 1. Standardization of radionuclide solutions (65Zn,

106Ru+106Rh, 134Cs, 154Eu).

2. Measurement of X-ray photon flux of medical purpose sources (55Fe, 57Co, 119mSn, 106Ru+106Rh, 125I, 153Gd, 147Pm, 204Tl, 241Am)

IN PROGRESS: 1. Standardization of radionuclide solution of 153Gd

2. Measurement of absolute gamma-ray emission probabilities of 226Ra, 192Ir.

ADDRESS VNIIM 19 Moskovsky pr St.Petersburg 198005 Russia

Phone: (812) 251-45-55 Fax: (812) 113-01-14 E-mail: info2101@vniim.ru

CONTACT: M.A.Rasko

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LABORATORY: D.I.Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM)

NAMES: A.E.Kochin, I.A.Kharitonov, I.A.Sokolova

APPARATUS: Proportional 4πβ-counter

137Cs standard solution in a tank of volume of 2 m3.

RESULTS: Calibration of submersible NaI(Tl) spectrometers for

environmental monitoring during the salvage of the “Kursk” nuclear submarine

ADDRESS VNIIM 19 Moskovsky pr St.Petersburg 198005 Russia

Phone: (812) 251-45-55 Fax: (812) 113-01-14 E-mail: info2101@vniim.ru

CONTACT: I.A.Kharitonov

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(SA1/SA2) LABORATORY CSIR-National Metrology Laboratory

NAMES Bruce Simpson, Freda Morris

Activities undertaken in 2001 • Participated in the full-scale international comparison of activity measurements of 89Sr, utilising the triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) efficiency calculation technique.

• Attended meetings of the Consultative Committee for Ionising Radiation at the BIPM, specifically CCRI Section 2 and the 17th principle CCRI meeting.

• Presented a paper at the ICRM 2001 conference held at the PTB. The paper, titled Radioactivity Standardization in South Africa, will be published in Applied Radiation and Isotopes in early 2002.

• Provided sealed X-ray sources in custom-made holders, comprising 152Eu, 133Ba and 241Am.

Programme for 2002

• Train a member of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) on direct liquid scintillation counting techniques for the standardization of radionuclides. Discussion at NML with ANSTO staff on digital coincidence counting (DCC). • Standardise a solution of 60Co and submit a sample to the SIR of theBIPM. • Participate in the full-scale international comparisons of activity measurement of 241Am, 204Tl and 65Zn being organised by the BIPM.• Design and assemble a dedicated symmetrical three phototube LS detection system for the activity measurement of pure beta-emitters and pure electron-capture radionuclides. • Provide radioactivity standards and sources to the user community.

ADDRESS Radioactivity Standards Laboratory ,CSIR-NML 15 Lower Hope Road, Rosebank 7700 Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Tel./fax (office) 27 21 686 2759, Tel. (lab) 27 21 685 4325 Tel. (lab.) 27 21 685 4325, Fax (reception) 27 21 686 6116

E-mail : bsimpson@csir.co.za

CONTACT B.R.S. Simpson

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LABORATORY Metrología de Radiaciones Ionizantes, CIEMAT

NAMES Eduardo García-Toraño, Leonor Rodríguez Barquero, Miguel Roteta

APPARATUS Solid state detectors; 4πβ(pc)-γ(NaI) coincidence counter; 4πβ(ppc)- γ(NaI) coincidence counter; large volume proportional counter; liquid scintillation counters.

ACTIVITY Standardization of a reference solution used for an intercomparison of

analytical laboratories from nuclear power plants. Set up of a new 4πβ(ppc)-γ(NaI) coincidence counting system (NIST

cooperation) Participation in the BIPM comparison of activity measurements of 238Pu

Standardization of 99Tcm, 22Na, and 131I by 4πβ-γ coincidence counting and gamma spectrometry.

Participation in the S.I.R. program of the BIPM with 134Cs Standardization of radionuclides (134Cs, 60Cs, 32P) by liquid scintillation

counting. Participation in the ICRM'2001 meeting at PTB (Braunschweig) γ−γ angular correlation measurements. PUBLICATIONS E. García-Toraño, M.Roteta and L. Rodríguez Barquero,

"Standardization of 134Cs by three methods ", accepted for publication in Applied Radiation and Isotopes.

IN PROGRESS Standardization of 125I, 131I, 99Tcm and 67Ga for nuclear medicine traceability programs.

Standardization of gamma-emitting radionuclides for environmental intercomparison programs.

ADDRESS Metrología de Radiaciones, Dpto. Fusión y Partículas Elementales,

CIEMAT, Ed. 12, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain. FAX : 34 9 346 6442 E. García-Toraño : Phone 34 91 346 6225, E.Garciatorano@ciemat.es M. Roteta : Phone 34 91 346 6244, Miguel.Roteta@ciemat.es L. Rodríguez Barquero, Phone 34 91 346 6566, L.Barquero@ciemat.es CONTACT Eduardo García-Toraño

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LABORATORY Metrología de Radiaciones Ionizantes, CIEMAT

NAMES Eduardo García-Toraño, María Teresa Crespo

APPARATUS High resolution alpha spectrometry system

Ionization chambers

low solid angle detector.

ACTIVITY α-particle emission probability (Pα) measurements.

Coordination of the "Alpha-Particle Spectrometry Working Group" of

the ICRM.

Development of new programs for spectral analysis.

Participation in the IAEA Coordinated Research Programme

"Development and application of Alpha Particle Spectrometry".

Participation in the EUROMET 591 project, (Alpha-particle

emission probabilities of 235U).

IN PROGRESS Measurement of alpha-particle emission probabilities of 235U.

New code with graphical interface for alpha-particle spectral analysis

ADDRESS Metrología de Radiaciones, Dpto. Fusión y Partículas Elementales,

CIEMAT Ed. 12, Avda. Complutense 22 28040 Madrid, Spain.

FAX : 34 91346 6442 E. García-Toraño : Phone 34 91346 6225, E.Garciatorano@ciemat.es

M.T. Crespo :Phone 34 91346 6553, Teresa.Crespo@ciemat.es

CONTACT Eduardo García-Toraño

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LABORATORY Metrología de Radiaciones Ionizantes, CIEMAT

NAMES Eduardo García-Toraño, José María Los Arcos, Miguel Roteta

APPARATUS Ionization chambers, coincidence counters

Isotope calibrators Semiconductor detectors

ACTIVITY Set up of a Nuclear Medicine Programme.

Set up of a CAPINTEC isotope calibrator as a transfer standard.

Organisation of an intercomparison exercise for the nuclear medicine services of the Community of Madrid.

ADDRESS Metrología de Radiaciones, Dpto. Fusión y Partículas Elementales, CIEMAT

Ed. 12, Avda. Complutense 22 28040 Madrid, Spain.

FAX : 34 91346 6442 E. García-Toraño : Phone 34 91346 6225, E.Garciatorano@ciemat.es

J.M. Los Arcos : Phone 34 91346 6288, Jm.Losarcos@ciemat.es M. Roteta : Phone 34 91 346 6244, Miguel.Roteta@ciemat.es

CONTACT Eduardo García-Toraño

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LABORATORY Metrología de Radiaciones Ionizantes, CIEMAT

NAMES Teresa Crespo APPARATUS Ionization chambers, alpha spectrometers with semiconductor detectors.

ACTIVITY Standardization of alpha-emitting radionuclides by 2πα counting with grid ionization chambers.

Participation in the BIPM comparison of activity measurements of 238Pu U-series disequilibrium measurements in geological and environmental samples.

PUBLICATIONS Sequential leaching methods: a review, previous experiences and

proposed method for Fe(III)-U(VI) rich fracture fillings from the U ore deposit (Mina Fe) at Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca, Spain). Interim report CIEMAT/DIAE/544401/7/01

IN PROGRESS Standardization of alpha-emitting radionuclides.

Uranium-series dating of speleothem.

Sequential leaching of U-rich fracture filling materials as natural analogues to a deep geological disposal of radioactive wastes.

ADDRESS Metrología de Radiaciones, Dpto. Fusión y Física de Partículas, CIEMAT, Ed. 3, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

FAX : 34 9 346 6442 Phone 34 91 346 6553 teresa.crespo@ciemat.es CONTACT Teresa Crespo

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LABORATORY Departamento de Física. Universidad de Extremadura. NAMES A. Fernández Timón, M. Galán López, V. Gómez Escobar, M. Jurado

Vargas, A. Martín Sánchez, D. Pérez Sánchez*, M.P. Rubio Montero. *Centro de Protección e Higiene de las Radiaciones. La Habana

(Cuba). APPARATUS Alpha spectrometers with PIPS detectors.

Liquid scintillation spectrometer. HPGe and INa(Tl) detectors.

ACTIVITY Alpha, beta and gamma spectrometry. Alpha, beta and gamma

measurements in environmental samples. RESULTS Studies of Ra, Rn, Th, U, and Pu activities in environmental samples.

Programs for analysis of alpha spectra. Montecarlo simulations in alpha and gamma spectrometry

PUBLICATIONS - M.P. Rubio Montero, A. Martín Sánchez. Activity of 239+240Pu and

238Pu in atmospheric deposits. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 55, 97-102 (2001).

- M.P. Rubio Montero, A. Martín Sánchez. Plutonium contamination from accidental release or simply fallout: study of soils at Palomares (Spain). J. Environ. Radioact. 55, 157-165 (2001).

- M. Jurado Vargas. Study of the energy resolution in alpha-particle spectra from electrodeposited radium sources. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem.250, 445-448 (2001).

IN PROGRESS Studies about interactions of alpha particles. Methods for measuring

alpha and beta emitting nuclides. Computer simulations of radiation-matter interactions. Studies about efficiency in gamma semiconductor detectors

IN PREPARATION - M. Jurado Vargas, A. Fernández Timón, N. Cornejo Díaz, D. Pérez

Sánchez. Influence of the geometrical characteristics of HpGe detector on the efficiency. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. (in press).

- A. Martín Sánchez, M.J. Nuevo Sánchez, M.P. Rubio Montero, A. Méndez Vilas. Study of inhomogeneities in sources prepared for α-particle spectrometry using scanning probe microscopy. Appl. Radiat. Isot. (in press).

- A. Martín Sánchez, M.J. Nuevo, M. Jurado Vargas, J. Díaz Bejarano, M.F. da Silva, C. Roldán García, A. Paúl, J.L. Ferrero Calabuig, A. Méndez Vilas, D. Juanes Barber. Application of atomic and nuclear techniques to the study of inhomogeneities in electrodeposited α-particle sources. Nucl. Instrum. Methods B (in press).

61

- A. Martín Sánchez, A. Fernández Timón, M.P. Rubio Montero. The effect of energy losses in α-particle sources on the shape of peaks in spectra obtained with wide-angle geometry. Appl. Radiat. Isot. (in press).

- F. Vera Tomé, V. Gómez Escobar, A. Martín Sánchez. Study of the peak shape in alpha spectra measured by liquid scintillation. Nucl. Instrum. Methods A (in press).

ADDRESS Departamento de Física

Universidad de Extremadura 06071 Badajoz, Spain Phone (+34)-924 28 95 26 ,Fax (+34)-924 28 96 51 E-mail: ams@unex.es

CONTACT Alejandro Martín Sánchez

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(SA1/SA2) IRA METAS Institut universitaire de Swiss Federal Office of radiophysique appliquée Metrology and Accreditation Centre universitaire CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland Radionuclide metrology at IRA-OFMET, Progress report for the year 2001 Participation in international comparisons: The activity concentration of a 238Pu solution was determined by scintillation counting with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.4%.

Other primary measurement and contribution to the SIR : The activity concentration of a 88Y solution was determined by 4π(X,e-)-γ counting and 4πγ counting with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.3%. The laboratory contributed to the SIR with 88Y, 18F and 222Rn.

Standards issued :Mixed radionuclide liquid sources containing 109Cd, 57Co, 139Ce, 137Cs, 88Y and 60Co (a total of a few kBq each) as well as 152Eu liquid sources were produced and distributed to swiss laboratories engaged in environmental survey. Ionization chamber : IG11 A/20 and IG11 N/20 ionization chamber responses were calculated by MC simulation. With the collaboration of the BIPM an excellent efficiency function has been obtained using 85 simulated energy points and 9 measured points of single γ-ray emitting nuclides.

Gamma spectrometry : Mixed nuclide and 152Eu spectra from three well-type HpGe detectors were obtained by measurement and MC simulation for comparison.

Radon : A system for the absolute measurement of 222Rn activity (according to the so-called 'Picolo method') has been set up. The activity of standard gaz ampoule containing 222Rn + daughters has bee measured by 4πγ counting (standard uncertainty 0.4%) for submission to SIR as a pilot study. Quality insurance : The system based on ISO 17025 has been achieved.

Publications M.C. Lépy, T. Altzitzoglou, D. Arnold, F. Bronson, R. Capote Noy, M. Décombaz, F. De Corte, R. Edelmaier, E. Herrera Peraza, S. Klemola, M. Korun, M. Kralik, H. Neder, J. Plagnard, S. Pommé, J. de Sanoit, O. Sima, F. Ugletveit, L. Van Velzen, T.Vidmar :"Intercomparaison of efficiency transfer software for gamma-ray spectrometry", Appl. Radiat. Isot. 55 (2001) 493-503.

63

Radionuclide metrology at IRA-METAS, Working program for the year 2002 - Participation in the international comparisons of 204Tl, 65Zn, 32P, 192Ir. - Setting up of a new acquisition system for 4πβ-γ coincidence counting. - Production of 57Co and 18F standards for nuclear medicine. - Production of Pu, Th, Am and U low level tracers for environmental laboratories. - Absolute measurement of 222Rn using the Picolo method. - Simulation of the IG11/A20 and IG11/N20 ionization chambers ADDRESS IRA-OFMET Centre universitaire

CP 17 CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland http://www.hospvd.ch/public/instituts/ira/ofmet/ fax 41 21 693 2499

Staff (approximately corresponding to 2.5 full time jobs) Jean-Christophe Gostely Jean-Christophe.Gostely@inst.hospvd.ch 41 21 693 3665 Jean-Jacques Gostely Jean-Jacques.Gostely@inst.hospvd.ch 41 21 693 3147 Jean-Pascal Laedermann Jean-Pascal.Laedermann@inst.hospvd.ch 41 21 623 3455 Gilles Triscone Gilles.Triscone@inst.hospvd.ch 41 21 693 5576 CONTACT Jean-Jacques Gostely

64

LABORATORY NMi Van Swinden Laboratorium

NAMES

W. de Vries

APPARATUS

1. Ionisation chamber, with Keithley 617-based charge

measuring system, built into a lead castle

2. HPGe-detector with standard electronics, built into a

lead castle

3. Windowless large area flow proportional counter, built

into a lead castle

IN PROGRESS

1. Ongoing calibration of the HPGe-detector for

ampoules

2. Beta-measurement system for a coincidence standard

3. Organisation of a EUROMET-intercomparison of large

area flow proportional counter

ADDRESS

NMi Van Swinden Laboratorium Dept. Temperature and Radiation PO Box 80 000 3508 TA UTRECHT, The Netherlands Tel.: +31 30 253 90 98, Fax.: +31 30 253 90 95 E-mail: WdeVries@NMi.nl

CONTACT

W. de Vries

65

LABORATORY AEA Technology, Harwell NAME A. L. Nichols ACTIVITY Decay Data Evaluations RESULTS 1. Activation and Fission Products An extensive exercise was initiated in 1999/2000 to assess the contents of the decay-data files for approximately 180 radionuclides within EAF-99 (1). The aim was to produce a comprehensive list of nuclides that require more detailed evaluations of their discrete decay data. These studies revealed evidence for discrepant and erroneous decay data within EAF. Some of these radionuclides with inadequate decay-data files were evaluated in 2001 (see Table 1), as part of an improvement project involving JEFF-3T. As listed in Table 1, the recommended decay data exhibit good consistency when Q-values and branching fraction data are compared with the discrete emission data. Note that Ho-163 has a particularly small Q-value of only 2.650(28) keV, which mitigates against the prescribed calculation of consistency within the UK processing code (COGEND). Studies funded by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (Fusion Division). Table 1: Decay Data of Activation Products Evaluated in 2001 – Consistency of Recommended Data.

Radionuclide Evaluated Half-life Consistency (% Deviation) 17-Cl-36 28-Ni-67 34-Se-79

(34-Se-79m) 37-Rb-89 38-Sr-92

42-Mo-103 50-Sn-126

(51-Sb-126) (51-Sb-126m) (51-Sb-126n) (52-Te-121) 52-Te-121m 56-Ba-126 57-La-137 58-Ce-145 67-Ho-163

(67-Ho-163m) 68-Er-172 79-Au-199 80-Hg-190 80-Hg-205 81-Tl-193

(81-Tl-193m)

3.07(3) x 105 y 21(1) s

1.12(12) x 106 y 3.90(2) min 15.4(2) min

2.71(1) h 67.9(6) s

2.42(14) x 105 y 12.41(5) d

19.1(2) min 11(2) s

19.16(5) d 154(7) d

100(2) min 6(2) x 104 y 2.95(6) min 4570(21) y 1.10(7) s 49.3(3) h

3.139(7) d 20.0(4) min 5.2(1) min

21.8(7) min 2.11(15) min

0.0001 0.0093 0.0000 -0.0743 -0.0750 -0.0061 -0.0096 0.0675 -0.0635 -0.1708 -0.5031 0.0226 -0.1799 -0.1958 0.0353 0.1188 10.5087 0.0373 0.2611 -0.0640 0.5330 -0.0431 -0.0502 -0.0042

Radionuclides in parentheses have not been specifically requested, but their decay data have been evaluated because they are either related ground/metastable states or short-lived

66

daughter nuclides. Uncertainties in the half-life data are listed in the format 12.34(56), which represents 12.34 ± 0.56; these uncertainties are expressed at the 1σ confidence level. Reference: 1. R A Forrest and J-Ch Sublet, The European Activation File: EAF-99 Decay Data Library, UK Atomic Energy Authority Report UKAEA FUS 409, 1998.

2. Heavy Element and Actinide Decay Data The decay data for an agreed set of actinides and some of their decay products have been evaluated (Table 2). his list of nuclides arose from a knowledge and assessment of decay data measurements published over recent years (from mid-1980s onwards). Full decay-scheme evaluations have been completed, and the resulting data will be incorporated into UKHEDD-2.3 and JEFF-3T. Studies funded by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNF plc), Sellafield. Table 2: Evaluated Heavy Element and Actinide Decay Data – Consistency of Recommended data.

Radionuclide Consistency (% Deviation) 88-Ra-226 decay chain references accumulated

90-Th-228

88-Ra-224

86-Rn-220

84-Po-216

84-Po-212

83-Bi-212

83-Bi-212m¶

82-Pb-212

81-Tl-208

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

evaluated, awaiting data processing

92-U-235

92-U-235m

92-U-236

92-U-238

-0.0040

0.0000

-0.2605

-0.0051

93-Np-237 awaiting data publications

94-Pu-236

94-Pu-239

94-Pu-241

-0.0047

-0.0376

-0.0012

95-Am-241

95-Am-242

95-Am-242m

0.2443

0.0329

-0.5520

96-Cm-242

96-Cm-244

-0.0394

-0.0319

67

¶ evaluation of decay data for 83-Bi-212m impacts on recommended decay-data files for 84-Po-212m and 84-Po-212n (elimination of one of these proposed metastable states). ADDRESS A L Nichols (ex-AEA Technology, Harwell), now with IAEA-Nuclear

Data Section, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, PO Box 100, Wagramerstrasse 5, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.

CONTACT A. L. Nichols

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LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Denise Woods, Mike Woods, Simon Woods, Andrea Woodman,

Andy Pearce, Lynsey Keightley, Andy Stroak, Hilary Phillips. APPARATUS 4πβ-γ coincidence counting systems (atmospheric and high pressure),

liquid scintillation counting systems and intrinsic germanium detectors. RESULTS Standardisation of 238Pu has been completed.

A staged relocation of all equipment into new laboratory facilities has been undertaken.

PUBLICATIONS D H Woods, M I Baker, J D Keightley, L J Keightley, J L Makepeace,

A K Pearce, A P Woodman, M J Woods, S A Woods and S Waters, Standardisation of 11C, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 327-330.

M J Woods, D H Woods, S A Woods, L J Husband, S M Jerome,

C Michotte, G Ratel, M Crespo, E Garcia-Torano, L Rodriguez, A Luca, B Denecke, G Sibbens, J Morel, M Etcheverry, D Santry, H Janssen, E Schönfeld and U Schötzig, Standardisation and decay data of 237Np, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 415-420.

IN PROGRESS Comparison of 241Am Investigation into the problems identified with the standardisation of

201Tl (BIPM). PLANNED Continued standardisation of radionuclides identified as being of

importance in environmental and medical applications, such as 32P and 65Zn.

ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 8520 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: denise.woods@npl.co.uk CONTACT Denise Woods

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LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Denise Woods, Lynsey Husband, Michaela Baker, Andy Stroak. APPARATUS 4πβ-γ coincidence counting systems and high pressure re-entrant

ionisation chambers. RESULTS Primary and secondary standards of 56Mn have been provided to

support the NPL MnSO4 bath facility. PLANNED These standards are available upon demand to ensure continuity of

calibration. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 8520 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: denise.woods@npl.co.uk CONTACT Denise Woods

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LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES John Keightley, Mike Woods. ACTIVITY Development of Digital Coincidence Counting (DCC). PUBLICATIONS J D Keightley and G C Watt, Digital coincidence counting (DCC) and

its use in the corrections for out-of-channel gamma events in 4πβ-γ coincidence counting, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 205-210.

IN PROGRESS Validation of all software for QA purposes. Development of data analysis software enabling use with atmospheric

pressure proportional counters. Interchange of data sets between NPL and KRISS to validate software

compatibility. PLANNED Development of data analysis software to enable correlation counting. Further comparison between DCC and conventional counting methods

for selected radionuclides, with submission to the SIR system. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6398 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: john.keightley@npl.co.uk CONTACT John Keightley

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LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Andrea Woodman, John Makepeace. APPARATUS Triple to double coincidence ratio (TDCR) counting system.

RESULTS A prototype TDCR system has been established. Preliminary tests have proved to be satisfactory.

IN PROGRESS Continued testing of operational equipment. PLANNED Validation of the TDCR system against other NPL absolute counting systems. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6435 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: andrea.woodman@npl.co.uk CONTACT Andrea Woodman

72

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Simon Woods, John Makepeace and Mike Woods. APPARATUS Intrinsic HPGe detector and re-entrant ionisation chamber (IG12). RESULTS Cross-calibration of the apparatus to facilitate the accurate

measurement of the activity of 81Krm gas used for medical diagnostic treatments. IN PROGRESS Extension of the calibration to encompass the NPL secondary standard radionuclide calibrator. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6424 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: simon.woods@npl.co.uk CONTACT Simon Woods

73

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Simon Jerome, Arvic Harms. APPARATUS Environmental level α-spectrometry systems. PLANNED Validation of NMRMs for α-emitters through participation in the IAEA

ALMERA programme. IAEA measurements on depleted uranium. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 8512 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 Email: arvic.harms@npl.co.uk CONTACT Arvic Harms

74

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Simon Woods. APPARATUS High resolution α-spectrometry system. IN PROGRESS Participation in EUROMET Project no. 591, Measurement of nuclear decay data of 235U. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6424 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 Email: simon.woods@npl.co.uk CONTACT Simon Woods

75

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY, NAMES John Makepeace, Andrea Woodman, Desmond MacMahon. APPARATUS Internal proportional gas counters. RESULTS The capability for the standardisation of 3H, 85Kr and 133Xe has been

maintained. Calibration systems for tritium-in-air and tritiated water monitors are

maintained with provision of the capability for the calibration of flow-through tritium-in-air monitors, diffusion-type tritium-in-air monitors and HTO/HT sampling-type monitors.

ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 8573 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: john.makepeace@npl.co.uk CONTACT Desmond MacMahon

76

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Julian Dean, Dagmara Tyler, Mike Woods. APPARATUS Pulse ionisation chamber, calibrated NaI(Tl) well crystal, well-type

ionisation chamber and liquid scintillation counting systems. IN PROGRESS Final commissioning of a radon-in-water dispenser.

Measurements to confirm the calibration figure for radon-in-water. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6278 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: julian.dean@npl.co.uk CONTACT Julian Dean

77

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Mike Woods, Simon Jerome, John Keightley, Michaela Baker,

Dagmara Tyler, Jo Townley. APPARATUS NPL radionuclide calibrator and high pressure ionisation chambers. RESULTS Development of a realistic ionisation chamber. Comparison of 201Tl solution between UK hospitals. Two further comparisons of 192Ir brachytherapy wire sources in UK

hospitals. Derivation of calibration figures for the NPL secondary standard

radionuclide calibrator for 125I seeds. Expansion of ionisation chamber calibration figures to encompass new

geometries e.g. syringes. PUBLICATIONS M Baker, G A Bass and M J Woods, Calibration of the NPL

secondary standard radionuclide calibrator for 125I seeds used in prostrate brachytherapy, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 321-325.

D K Tyler, M Baker and M J Woods, NPL secondary standard radionuclide calibrator: Syringe calibration factors for radionuclides used in nuclear medicine, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56 (2002) 343-347.

IN PROGRESS Development of syringe calibration factors for the NPL secondary

standard radionuclide calibrator. Comparison of 18F amongst NMIs using the NPL secondary standard

radionuclide calibrator. Revision of the QA protocol for radionuclide calibrators used in

hospitals. Upgrading of the robotic source change system for the ionisation

chambers. PLANNED Investigation of the accuracy of calibration figures for several

commercial radionuclide calibrators. Comparison of 67Ga using the NPL secondary standard radionuclide

calibrator.

ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington, Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6425, Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: michael.woods@npl.co.uk CONTACT Mike Woods

78

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Clare Scott, John Keightley, Mike Woods. APPARATUS Large area multiwire proportional counter. RESULTS The measurement phase of the comparison of the calibration of

surface contamination monitors is complete.

PUBLICATIONS M Pottinger, M J Woods and L J Keightley, The examination, testing and calibration of installed radiation protection instruments, National Physical Laboratory, Measurement Good Practice Guide No. 29, December 2001.

IN PROGRESS Analysis of the data arising from the comparison of the calibration of

surface contamination monitors in the UK. Production of a Good Practice Guide on practical radiation

monitoring. PLANNED Further development of the existing counter and installation of a

second counting system. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6208, Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: clare.scott@npl.co.uk CONTACT Clare Scott

79

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Simon Jerome, Mike Woods, Andy Pearce, Arvic Harms,

Satwant Johal. APPARATUS Intrinsic germanium detectors (two n-type, one p-type, one well-type). IN PROGRESS Continued development of enhanced facilities for low-level

environmental measurements.

Upgrading of detector shielding using pre-nuclear steel inserts. ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 8512 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: arvic.harms@npl.co.uk CONTACT Arvic Harms

80

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Julian Dean, Simon Jerome, Dagmara Tyler, Sean Collins,

Mike Woods. ACTIVITY Comparison of environmental radioactivity monitoring laboratories. RESULTS Certified environmental level solutions have been issued to all

participants in the 2001 intercomparison.

A workshop has been held to assess the status of current measurement capabilities and to establish future requirements.

IN PROGRESS Planning has begun for the 2002 comparison. An associated workshop

will be held.

IN PREPARATION J C J Dean, An assessment of performance levels for measurements of selected alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides in environmental laboratories, to be presented at 9th IMERA September 2002.

ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6278 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: julian.dean@npl.co.uk CONTACT Julian Dean

81

LABORATORY NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY NAMES Dagmara Tyler, Arvic Harms, Simon Jerome, Mike Woods, Simon

Woods.

ACTIVITY Study of the measurement techniques of thorium in the workplace. RESULTS Comparison of liquid and solid sources at varying activity levels. Collation and publication of comparison results. A summary workshop to advise industry has been held. PUBLICATIONS S A Woods, D K Tyler and M J Woods, Nuclear data used in the

analysis of thorium in the workplace, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 97 (2001) 133-136.

A V Harms, S M Jerome, D K Tyler and M J Woods, Thorium in the

workplace: The preparation and validation of comparison samples for a European-based measurement comparison project, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 97 (2001) 137-140.

D K Tyler, M J Woods, S M Jerome and A V Harms, Thorium in the

workplace: Results from a European-based measurement comparison project, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 97 (2001) 141-152.

ADDRESS Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology National Physical Laboratory Teddington Middlesex United Kingdom TW11 0LW Tel: +44 20 8943 6085 Fax: +44 20 8943 6161 E-mail: dagmara.tyler@npl.co.uk CONTACT Dagmara Tyler

82

LABORATORY Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory NAME R. G. Helmer ACTIVITY This is my activity report under ICRM standings actions SA1 And SA2 for the years 2001 and 2002.

Accomplishments for 2001 Evaluated decay data for international Decay Data

Evaluation Project, in particular for the decay of: 7Be, 46Sc, 51Cr, 54Mn, 64Cu, 153Sm, and 153Gd. Evaluated nuclear structure data for Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF), in particular that for the A=87 nuclides. Co-author with J. C. Hardy and others of paper entitled “Precise Efficiency Calibration of an HPGe Detector: Source Measurements and Monte Carlo Calculations with Sub-percent Precision”.

Plans for 2002 Continue work on precise determination of Ge detector efficiencies, especially by means of Monte Carlo calculations. Continue nuclear structure and decay data evaluations for ENSDF and the associated Nuclear Data Sheets and the Decay Data Evaluation Project. ADDRESS Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory P. O. Box 1625 Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415-2114 USA Phone (208)526-4155 Fax (208)526-9267 E-mail: helmerR@pcif.net CONTACT R. G. Helmer

83

LABORATORY Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory NAMES R. J. Gehrke, INEEL; P. Shebell, U. S. DOE EML; F. Bronson,

Canberra Industries; S. Faller, U.S., EPA; M. Unterweger, U. S. NIST; D. Keefer, Duke Engineering & Services; R. Reiman, self employed

ACTIVITY An American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

“Performance Standard for the Calibration of Germanium Detectors for In-Site Gamma-Ray Measurements” (N42.28) has been balloted and approved by the N42 Committee.

Publication is expected by late summer of 2002. IN PROGRESS Revision of ANSI N42.25 to begin in spring of 2002. ADDRESS Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory P. O. Box 1625 Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415-2114 USA Phone (208) 526-4157 Fax (208) 526-9267 E-mail: rjg@inel.gov CONTACT R. J. Gehrke

84

LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology

NAMES B. E. Zimmerman, M. A. Millican

APPARATUS High-purity Ge detectors

IN PROGRESS Progress is being made to develop methodologies to quantify the Tc isotopes present as impurities in solutions of 94Tcm produced in the 94Mo(p,n)94,94mTc reaction. Technetium-94m is currently being investigated as a possible nuclide for use in Positron Emission Tomography. Up to 7 Tc isotopes are produced in the production reaction due to isotopic impurities in the target and must accounted for to assess the contribution to the total dose from each nuclide.

ADDRESS NIST 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA Phone: +1-301-975-5191 Fax: +1-301-926-7416 bez@nist.gov

CONTACT B. E. Zimmerman

85

LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology

NAMES B. E. Zimmerman, R. Collé, J. T. Cessna

APPARATUS ACTIVITY

Triple-to-Double-Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) LS Spectrometer

IN PROGRESS A Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio liquid scintillation spectrometer, based on the systems in use at Swierk and LNHB, is under construction at NIST. First standardization studies using the system are planned for early 2002.

ADDRESS

NIST 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA Phone: +1-301-975-5191 Fax: +1-301-926-7416 bez@nist.gov

CONTACT B. E. Zimmerman

86

LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology

NAMES B. E. Zimmerman, J. T. Cessna, M. A. Millican

APPARATUS

Commercial re-entrant ionization chambers (“dose calibrators”)

IN PROGRESS Studies have been carried out to assess the effect of measurement geometry on the activity determination of solutions of 166Ho in dose calibrators. Data have been collected on 7 different commercial instruments in the standard NIST ampoule, as well as in plastic and glass dose vials. Calibration factors and correction factors for the different dose calibrators relative to NIST chambers are being developed.

ADDRESS NIST 100 Bureau Dr. Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA Phone: +1-301-975-5191 Fax: +1-301-926-7416 bez@nist.gov

CONTACT B. E. Zimmerman

87

LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES R. Collé and B.E. Zimmerman ACTIVITY Radionuclidic microcalorimetry for radioactivity standardizations RESULTS Our current re-interest in classical calorimetry devolves directly from

the need to provide standardizations for rather large, GBq-range, pure beta-emitting brachytherapy sources. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, calorimetry was one of the principal standardization tools used by this laboratory, although this capability was gradually lost over time because of the need for samples having very large quantities of radioactivity. This basic measurement capability, however, has largely been re-established in the past year. Two different calorimeters have been put together and have been operating since October, 2000 and May, 2001, respectively; viz. a dual-compensated cryogenic calorimeter operating at a nominal 8 K and a commercial "isothermal" (sic) microcalorimeter (IMC) which is a dual-cell, near-isothermal (heat flow) calorimeter that is operated at 303.5 K. Large amounts of performance evaluation data have been collected on both calorimeters. Substantial improvements were made to the cryogenic calorimeter, particularly for the cryostat vacuum system and for the base temperature stability, and we have further identified what changes need to be made in the calorimeter’s elevator system to substantially improve the baseline stability and parasitic heat losses between stages. Even greater progress was made in getting the IMC operable. The performance of this system in terms of its operating characteristics, such as baseline stability and ambient temperature dependencies, has been completely evaluated. This calorimeter was suitably adapted to provide calibrations for absolute, NIST-traceable, power measurements using specially-designed and -fabricated calibration heaters that are embedded within the source-measurement cells. A complete calibration at power levels ranging from 15 µW to 250 µW has been completed for several source holder configurations and was used to perform the first test calibrations of 90Sr-90Y brachytherapy seeds and a 32P "hot wall" angioplasty-balloon-catheter sources. Following these successful tests, the IMC was used to perform a calorimetric-based standardization for a new generation of Novoste 90Sr-90Y intravascular brachytherapy sources (see subsequent Contribution in this Newsletter). A calorimetric-based standardization of 103Pd is also scheduled for the Spring of 2002.

88

PUBLICATIONS R. Collé and B.E. Zimmerman, A dual-compensated cryogenic microcalorimeter for radioactivity standardizations, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 56, 223-230 (2002).

R. Collé, B.E. Zimmerman, and R.E. Elmquist, Radionuclidic microcalorimetry II: Use of a dual-cell, near-isothermal (heat flow) calorimeter for radioactivity standardizations, in preparation.

ADDRESS NIST Bldg. 245/ Room C114 Gaithersburg MD 20899 USA

voice 301-975-5527 fax: 301-926-7416 email: rcolle@nist.gov

CONTACT R. Collé

89

LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES R. Collé and B.E. Zimmerman ACTIVITY A calorimetric-based standardization of 90Sr-90Y brachytherapy

sources. RESULTS A new generation of 90Sr-90Y intravascular brachytherapy sources,

which are manufactured by AEA Technology QSA GmbH (Braunschweig, Germany) for the Novoste Corporation (Norcross, GA, USA), have been standardized using the NIST dual-cell, near-isothermal (heat flow) microcalorimeter. Calorimetric measurements (of groups of multiple seeds determined simultaneously) were performed to obtain the total power from the various multi-seed groupings. These power measurements, ranging from about 60 µW to 350 µW, were converted to total 90Sr activities (in each group) through the use of a calculated average energy per decay. Relative ionization chamber measurements on all of the individual seeds (each nominally 120 MBq) were obtained with two different instruments in standard source geometries and were then used to assign an individual activity to each source from the relative proportion of the total calorimetrically-determined activity. The calorimetric measurements were performed with two different sets of measurement cells, and Monte Carlo calculations for the energy deposition in the cells were used to assess and correct for the power loss due to escaping ionizing radiation. These losses were less than 0.4% in worst cases. Independent heat-flow power calibrations, at applied powers ranging from 15 to 600 µW, were performed throughout the course of the standardization trials by applying known power levels to both of the dual cells at both baseline and inserted-source conditions. The average "canonical" power calibration factor, based on 22 replicate determinations, had a relative standard deviation of the mean of less than 0.1 % and a half-range of ± 0.5 %. The "absolute" (sic) applied power for any calibration was determined to better than 0.1%. The standardization resulted in an expanded uncertainty (for a k = 2 coverage factor) of 1.5 % on the 90Sr activity in a given source. A liquid-scintillation-based destructive radioanalytical assay was performed on one of the seeds for confirmatory purposes. The destructive assay agreed with the calorimetric result to within about 1 %.

ADDRESS NIST Bldg. 245/ Room C114 Gaithersburg MD 20899 USA

voice 301-975-5527, fax: 301-926-7416 email: rcolle@nist.gov

CONTACT R. Collé

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES R. Collé ACTIVITY Continuing calibrations of intravascular brachytherapy sources RESULTS Considerable work has continued on providing NIST-based activity

calibrations for manufacturers of intravascular brachytherapy sources. These sources are intended for use in the prophylactic inhibition of restenosis following balloon angioplasty in heart-disease patients. Their use has an ultimate potential of possibly serving over 650,000 patients per year in the US alone, with an economic value in excess of several billion dollars. In the past year, two sets of nondestructive ionization-chamber-based calibrations were performed for 32P "hot-wall" angioplasty-balloon catheter sources that are manufactured by Radiance Medical Systems Inc. (Irvine, CA). These calibration measurements utilized previously established ionization-chamber calibration factors that were in turn derived from destructive assays. The results of the calibrations were used by Radiance for internal quality control and to transfer the NIST calibrations to two other calibration laboratories in Europe. Ionization-chamber-based calibrations were also performed for another set of seeds from the Novoste Corporation (Norcross, GA). These are stainless-steel-encapsulated, ceramic-based 90Sr-90Y sources whose calibration factors were also derived from earlier destructive radionuclidic assays by NIST. A primary calorimetric-based standardization for a new generation of Novoste 90Sr-90Y sources was also completed (see preceding Contribution in this Newsletter). Initial experimental design work has also been completed for a new primary calibration for 103Pd used in sources by Theragenics Corp.

PUBLICATIONS R. Collé, Chemical digestion and radionuclidic assay of TiNi-

encapsulated 32P intravascular brachytherapy sources, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 50, 811-833 (1999).

R. Collé, B.E. Zimmerman, C.G. Soares and B.M. Coursey, Determination of a calibration factor for the nondestructive assay of Guidant 32P intravascular brachytherapy sources, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 50, 835-841 (1999).

B.M. Coursey, R. Collé, B.E. Zimmerman, J. Cessna and D.B. Golas, National radioactivity standards for beta -emitting radionuclides used in intravascular brachytherapy, Int. J. Radiat, Oncol. Biol. Phys. 41, 207-216 (1998).

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R. Collé, On the radioanalytical methods used to assay stainless-steel-encapsulated, ceramic-based 90Sr-90Y intravascular brachytherapy sources, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 52, 1-18 (2000).

R. Collé, Calibration of 32P "hot-wall" angioplasty-balloon-catheter sources by liquid-scintillation-spectrometry-based destructive radionuclidic assays, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 54, 611-622 (2001).

R. Collé, R., Activity characterization of pure-β-emitting brachytherapy sources, Applied Radiation Isotopes, 56, 331-336 (2002).

ADDRESS NIST Bldg. 245/ Room C114 Gaithersburg MD 20899 USA

voice 301-975-5527 fax: 301-926-7416 email: rcolle@nist.gov

CONTACT R. Collé

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES R. Collé ACTIVITY Deadtime effects in liquid scintillation counting of the 222Rn subseries RESULTS The evaluation of the deadtime-loss effect in commercial LS counters

for the 165-µs 214Po in the 222Rn decay chain has been largely completed. This work was done in collaboration with the French HBNL during a visit there in October, 2000 and through exchange of HBNL-accurately-standardized LS samples prepared in the Spring of 2001. It demonstrated that the loss effect (i.e., the decrease in detection efficiency) was substantially greater than ever anticipated. The effective deadtimes for three different commercial LS counters was found to range from nearly 30 µs to over 50 µs (with attendant 214Po alpha efficiencies in the range of 80% to 90%) compared to manufacturer’s specifications that they are in the range of 10 µs to 20 µs. Further trials to confirm these findings within other commercial LS spectrometers are planned. The completion of this work is the last piece of a ten-or-more-year effort by the NIST Radioactivity Group to completely standardize the 226Ra-222Rn-210Pb-decay chain through liquid-scintillation-based calibrations for the 222Rn subseries and for 226Ra in the presence of the 210Pb subseries.

ADDRESS NIST Bldg. 245/ Room C114 Gaithersburg MD 20899 USA

voice 301-975-5527 fax: 301-926-7416 email: rcolle@nist.gov

CONTACT R. Collé

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology

NAMES K.G.W. Inn and Zhichao Lin

ACTIVITY Ultra-Sensitive Uranium Isotopic Composition Intercomparison

IN PROGRESS There is a drastic expansion for ultra-sensitive uranium isotopic composition measurements because of: 1) Nuclear isotopic forensics involoving domestic and international anti-terrorism, international weapons, comprehensive test ban treaty, depleted uranium, 2) Risk assessment for occupational, accident, and long-term environmental stewardship, such as radiobioassay monitoring, accident response, waste process control, environmental contamination, 3) Billion-dollar litigation for U and Pu occupational, military and public exposure, and 4) Advanced geochemical studies. The isotopic selectivity and sensitivity capabilities of emerging measurement technology need to be evaluated and their reliability determined now to be timely. To fullfil the needs, technical criteria and plans have been developed at a meeting 26-27 February 2002 at Santa Fe, New Mexico of a group of international experts for an independent evaluation and validation of current and emerging uranium measurement technologies to provide a basis for their credibility that will be used in the anti-terrorism and radiological control efforts to prevent, respond, control and remediate unplanned radionuclide releases. The following construct for the proposed intercomparison was derived by NIST using statistical orthogonal-design theory. Full factorial designs that focused on the variables, i.e., total U quantity and 235U/238U isotopic ratios, are balanced against considerations of replicate measurements and laboratory capacity. Two types of sample matrixes, i.e., urine and swipe, will be included in the intercomparison study. The participant’s capabilities, in terms of bias, precision, uncertainty, and sensitivity, for quantifying total U and detecting U isotopic ratio variation will be evaluated at total U ranging from 2 to 400 ng and 235U/238U ratios from 0.4 to 1.

ADDRESS NIST 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA Phone: +1-301-975-5541 Fax: +1-301-926-7416 kenneth.inn@nist.gov

CONTACT K.G.W. Inn

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES L. Pibida, M. Millican, B. Zimmerman and J. Cessna APPARATUS Calibrated HPGe detectors with standard electronics and computers. RESULTS Measurement of activities and impurities in numerous sample materials

from nuclear power plants and for nuclear medicine applications. Combined work with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) for activity measurements of radiopharmaceuticals, source manufactures and nuclear power plants monitoring. Efficiency calibrations of semiconductor detector systems in a wide variety of geometries.

IN PROGRESS Upgrade and expansion of measuring capabilities concerning available

detectors and geometries. Utilization of these systems in the development and refinement of the available, as well as new, SRMs.

ADDRESS NIST

100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA (301) 975-5538 voice (301) 926-7682 fax leticia.pibida@nist.gov

CONTACT L. Pibida

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES L. Pibida and B. A. Bushaw (PNNL) APPARATUS At NIST a resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) system has

been developed as sensitive and selective device for low-level measurements of radio-cesium in the environment. It consists of three main components: a resistively heated graphite crucible for efficient sample atomization, a laser system for selective ionization of neutral atoms in the gas phase, and a magnetic sector mass spectrometer used for analysis and final detection of the photo-ions.

RESULTS Resonance ionization spectroscopy avoids isobaric interferences via

selectively ionizing the element of interest by tunable laser light. This technique allows analysis of environmental samples with minimum chemical preparation. Determination of the 135Cs / 137Cs ratio is performed using single-resonance optical excitation 6s 2S1/2 (F = 4) → 6p 2P3/2 (F′ = 5) with an external cavity high-resolution continuous-wave diode laser working at 852nm followed by photoionization with the 488 nm line of an argon ion laser. The combination of optical and mass spectrometer selectivity adds to an overall value of 109 attained for 135Cs and 137Cs in the suppression of stable 133Cs. Overall detection efficiency for the RIMS process of 5×10-7 was demonstrated. Test measurements on samples containing as much as 107 excess of 133Cs were performed successfully and demonstrated detection limits of 5×109 atoms. While the activity equivalent for 137Cs is as high as ~ 400 mBq, the value for 135Cs is ~ 4×10-3 mBq, far below the level of detection of conventional decay counting methods. Via RIMS isotope ratio measurements of 135Cs / 137Cs a precise dating of a 137Cs nuclear-fuel-burn-up sample standard reference material (SRM), whose isotopic composition had been accurately measured two decades previously, was achieved.

PUBLICATIONS Evaluation of Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry for the

Determination of 135Cs/137Cs Isotope Ratio in Low-level Samples. L. Pibida, W. Nörtershäuser, J.M.R. Hutchinson, and B.A. Bushaw. Radiochim. Acta 89, 161-168 (2001)

IN PROGRESS Improvement in the efficiency, further testing and application to lake

and soil sediments SRMs and analytical samples will be carried out. Subsequently measurements on environmental samples are foreseen.

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ADDRESS NIST

100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA (301) 975-5538 voice, (301) 926-7682 fax leticia.pibida@nist.gov

CONTACT L. Pibida

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES J. T. Cessna, L. Pibida, B. E. Zimmerman, M. P. Unterweger ACTIVITY Determination of 166Ho k-value sensitivity to carrier concentration

and solution density in NIST “4π”-γ ionization chamber “A” RESULTS An equation was obtained that results in the appropriate k-value for

input values of carrier concentration and solution density for chloride solutions of 166Ho.

ADDRESS NIST

100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA (301) 975-5539 voice (301) 926-7416 fax jeffrey.cessna@nist.gov

CONTACT Jeffrey T. Cessna

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES J. T. Cessna, B. E. Zimmerman and M. A. Millican APPARATUS NIST “4π”-γ ionization chamber “A” ACTIVITY Determination of the k-value for a 166Ho-DOTMP solution ADDRESS NIST

100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA (301) 975-5539 voice (301) 926-7416 fax jeffrey.cessna@nist.gov

CONTACT Jeffrey T. Cessna

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES J. T. Cessna, B. E. Zimmerman, M. A. Millican ACTIVITY Measurement of 166Ho-DOTMP by the CIEMAT/NIST 3H-Standard

Efficiency Tracing method of 4πβ Liquid Scintillation Counting RESULTS When preparing commercial medical ionization chamber calibration

factors it is of interest to calibrate the activity concentration of a radiotherapy product solution. Investigations were performed to find a suitable commercially available liquid scintillant to produce stable liquid scintillation cocktails containing a 166Ho-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodo-decane-1,4,7,10-tetramethylenephosphonic acid (DOTMP) solution. Of the four scintillants examined HionicFluor (Packard) and Optiphase Hisafe III (Wallac) were found to be suitable, Ready Safe (Packard) and Ultima Gold (Beckman) were found to be unsuitable.

ADDRESS NIST

100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA (301) 975-5539 voice (301) 926-7416 fax jeffrey.cessna@nist.gov

CONTACT Jeffrey T. Cessna

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LABORATORY National Institute of Standards and Technology NAMES M. P. Unterweger and P. A. Hodge ACTIVITY Traceability studies of various large-area alpha and beta sources

involving calibration of nuclear counting equipment. RESULTS Various agencies are required to show traceability to NIST in their

ability to measure contamination using proportional counters and liquid scintillation counters. This traceability has been established for 60Co, 137Cs, 90Sr, 63Ni, 241Am, and 238Pu.

ADDRESS NIST

100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8462 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462 USA (301) 975-5536 voice (301) 926-7416 fax unterweg@nist.gov

CONTACT Michael Unterweger

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LABORATORY Institute of Occupational and Radiological Health,

"Dr Dragomir Karajović"

NAMES G. Pantelić, I. Tanasković, Lj. Javorina, M. Eremić, V. Vuletić

APPARATUS Low-background HP Ge detector; Pop-top HP Ge detector; NaI(Tl) detector; Gas flow proportional counter.

ACTIVITY Preparation, quality control and standardization of solutions of several radionuclides for gamma-ray spectrometry; Participation in international comparisons (EML New York); Routine measurements of radionuclides in environmental samples; Routine measurements and certifications of radioactive contamination in imported or exported foodstuffs; 222Rn measurements in homes and workplaces.

PUBLICATIONS

G.Pantelić, M.Eremić, I.Petrović, Lj.Javorina, I.Tanasković, P.Vancsura, A.Lengyel Varga, J.Kövágó, Radioactivity Control of the Danube at Yugoslav-Hungarian Border Area, Book of Abstracts of First International Conference on Environmental Recovery of Yugoslavia, Vinča Bulletin, Supplement 2, 2001, 20-21 M. Rajković, G. Pantelić, I. Petrović, Determination of uranium contents in the soils. Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 46, No. 2, Belgrade, 2001, 163-174

IN PROGRESS

Depleted uranium measurement

ADDRESS Institute of Occupational and Radiological Health "Dr Dragomir Karajović", Deligradska 29, 11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia Tel: ++381-11-3618-703, Fax: ++381-11-643-675 E-mail: dpantelic@ptt.yu

CONTACT Gordana Pantelić