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LS User’s Forum 2001. CIEMAT/NIST – what is it?. Andy Pearce CIRM. Date: 5 th September 2001. What is CN Basic Idea Free Parameter Model Fermi Theory Summary. What is CIEMAT/NIST. Standardisation technique developed by CIEMAT and NIST (hence the name) based on LSC
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LS User’s Forum 2001 CIEMAT/NIST – what is it? Andy PearceCIRM Date: 5th September 2001
What is CN • Basic Idea • Free Parameter Model • Fermi Theory • Summary
What is CIEMAT/NIST • Standardisation technique developed by CIEMAT and NIST (hence the name) based on LSC • Allows standardisation without specialised equipment • Initially for pure beta emitting nuclides • Later extended to EC and EC-gamma nuclides
The Basics • A Poisson model is used to calculate the detection efficiency for a nuclide as a function of a “free parameter” – related to amount of chemical quench in the sample • Relationship between free parameter and external standard quench factor determined using tritium • Combination of the two used to generate a quench curve for the nuclide of interest
Free Parameter Model • For a mono energetic beta particle the efficiency is given by • E is the particle energy • Q(E) is the ionisation quench function • M is the “free parameter”
Fermi Theory • The energy distribution of beta particles is given by: • W is the beta energy (here in natural units) • W0 is the end point energy • F0L0 is the relativistic Fermi coulomb correction • S is the shape factor correction • C is a collection of other correction terms
Bringing it Together • Efficiencies at a range of free parameters are calculated for tritium and matched to an experimental tritium quench curve, to give a free parameter vs. quench curve • Free parameter vs. efficiency is calculated for the nuclide of interest • From the two curves, efficiency can be calculated for the sample nuclide
Summary • The CIEMAT/NIST method is a useful means of standardising pure beta emitters • Mathematically very complex, but software codes can be used to “black box” without knowledge of the underlying algorithms • Allows accurate measurement of “new” nuclides with commercial LS counters