Spectrometric Methods for the Measurement of Impurities in Alpha and Beta Emitting Radionuclides

Abstract

Ge(Li) spectrometers are generally used for discovering of impurities of the solutions of radionuclides. This device is not possible to be used in cases, when the admixture of the pure alpha or beta emitting radionuclide is expected. For this rare cases a method based on the spectrometry alpha resp. beta rays was developed in the UVVVR [1 – 3]. For measurement of alpha impurities Si surface barrier detector (FWHM about 20 keV for 241Am) is used, sources are prepared by an electrolytical method and spectra are processed by similar methods used in gamma spectrometry. For measurement of beta imputiries Si(Li) detector with depth 2 mm is used. Continuous spectra of beta rays are proceeded by comparing the tested spectra with reference spectra of the same radionuclide. The presence of the impurity is deduced out of the deviations both one.