Live-Timed Anti-Coincidence Counting with Extending Dead-Time Circuitry

Abstract

Anti-coincidence counting is examined as an alternative to conventional coincidence methods for radioactive source strength measurement. Live-timing principles are combined with the use, for all channels, of a shared dead-time of the extending type. Accuracy, precision, decay and background effects are treated and results of comparisons with coincidence measurements given which show agreement consistent with statistical uncertainties of about 0.03%.

Corrections for the combined effects of decay and dead time in live-timed counting of short-lived radionuclides

“…Also, our exact equation for f d [Equation (17a)] for the extending case agrees with Baerg's term in square brackets in his Equation (10) (Baerg et al, 1976) to better than 2 % for x < 2 and k < 2 ( f d = 1.29). Baerg’s equation can be expressed as, $$f_{\mathrm{d}}\approx 1+0.0842x^{2.004}true(\text{ln}true(\frac{x}{\lambda T_{\mathrm{L}}}true)-B\tau true).$$ Here, we have omitted his additional decay correction to an arbitrary reference time.…”

How old is it?—241Pu/241Am nuclear forensic chronology reference materials

“…For background information on the LTAC method see the papers of Baerg et al [1, 2] and ICRU [3]. The NIST LTAC system and its general use have been described elsewhere [4, 5, 6], and the application of this method to 241 Pu has been described by Coursey and Lucas [7].…”

Primary radioactivity standardization and gamma intensities determination of 124Sb

“…To the initial idea of Bryant it was incorporated in the concept of shared dead time for beta and gamma channels by de Carlos and Granados [12]. In 1976, Baerg [13] introduced the use of live time to the anticoincidence system that eliminates the correction of dead time using an extending dead-time device. In 2000, Bouchard, from LNHB/France, presented a device where the concepts of live time and extended dead time were incorporated in a unique electronic module entitled MTR2 [14,15].…”