AN EVALUATION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DETECTING AND IDENTIFYING ALPHA EMITTERS IM LOW-COUNT-RATE SAMPLES -USING SOME NEW LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTING TECHNIQUES

摘要

Several tests in which a high-resolution liquid scintillation method was applied to samples having a low count rate (i.e., urine samples and waste water) are described. With the present shielding and resolution, the identification of an alpha energy to ±0.1 meV at a count rate as low as 1 count/min appears to be feasible. Since many waste or environmental samples are above this count rate, application of this method to such samples appears attractive. Methods of improving energy resolution and reducing background are noted.