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Precise a K Measurement in 197 Pt. A Test of Internal Conversion Theory. Mark Hernberg Advisor: Dr. John C. Hardy Mentor: Dr. Ninel Nica. Internal Conversion. Atomic electron ejection Followed by characteristic X-ray emission. Gamma Decay. Photon emission.
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Precise aK Measurement in 197Pt A Test of Internal Conversion Theory Mark Hernberg Advisor: Dr. John C. Hardy Mentor: Dr. Ninel Nica
Internal Conversion • Atomic electron ejection • Followed by characteristic • X-ray emission Gamma Decay • Photon emission What Is Internal Conversion?
Internal Conversion Coefficient ICCs are used in the study of: • Nuclear decay schemes • Spin and parity assignments, • Transition rates • Branching ratios • Detector efficiency calibration
346.5 M4 95.41 min 268.78 M1+E2 8.2% 199.44 M1+E2 15.4 ps 53.1 E2 16.58 ns 81.2% 77.35 M1+E2 10.6% 191. ns 19.89 hr stable 197mPt Decay CITATION: Nuclear Data Sheets (2005) From NNDC(BNL) Program ENSDAT
Source Preparation • Homogeneous Layer of Sample • 0.7mg 196Pt dissolved in a solution of aqua-regia • 96% enriched sample, naturally occurring is only ~25% • Heated & dried to solidify • Placed on thin layer of Mylar • Thermal Neutron Activation • At TRIGA nuclear reactor here on campus • Activation time of ~4 hours
Oops – Activation Problems • Long sample activation time resulted in an excessive level of both impurities and activity. 197mPt 197Pt
Data Collection • 17 spectra collected from ~3 hours to 9 days after activation • Over 700 million counts • Average of over 900 counts/sec! • Relative photopeak efficiencies calibrated to 0.15%
Detector Info Source • 3 Main Events in Detector: • Photoelectric Effect • Compton Scattering • Pair Production
Spectral Analysis Spectrum 1: 8.28 minute run time, 55.4% live time, ~1.2 million total counts
Spectral Analysis Spectrum 17: 22.1 hour run time, 97.6% live time, ~1 million total counts
Impurity Analysis • Check known & common impurities- like 197Au • Make educated guesses: Known Gammas for 124Sb* Energy (keV) Ig(%) 602.7 98.2 722.78 10.8 1690.9 47.7 Found Gammas Energy (keV) Ig(%) 602.5 97.5 722.6 10.4 1691.4 47.1 *TORI Data from LBNL website (1999)
Spectral Analysis 197Au 191m Hg 191m Hg
aK Calculation • Full Formula aK K-shell ICC wK fluorescence yield 0.959(4)* NK, Ng peak area eK, eg detector efficiency *E. Schönfeld, H. Jaben, NIM A 369 (1996) 527.
To Infinity and Beyond • Prepare another 196Pt sample, this time with the correct activation level. • Repeat data collection & analysis process • Determine aK to <1% uncertainty.
Acknowledgements • Dr. John C. Hardy • Dr. Ninel Nica • Victor Iacob