Control quality measurements of alpha and beta counter with low back-ground ALBA 2000 v.2.5.6.

Abstract

The article provides a systematic approach to quality control of measurements of total alpha-and beta-activity using a counter with a low background ALPHA / BETA COUNTING SYSTEM ALBA (mod. ALBA / LLAB) and software ALBA 2000 v.2.5.6. The purpose is to determine the compliance of these objects with the requirements of regulatory documentation. The spectrometry method is based on the physical concentration of radionuclides from the sample volume, measuring the rate of alpha, and beta radiation of the obtained dry residue of the sample, comparing the sample count rate with calibration values of activity, and calculating the total alpha, beta activity of the sample. The primary means of testing is a counter with a low background ALPHA / BETA COUNTING SYSTEM ALBA 200, the lower limit of measurements of the alpha activity, which is 0.02 Bq/l, and beta activity of 0.1 Bq/l, the relative random uncertainty of the measurement result is 60 % with a confidence level P = 0.95. The efficiency of registration on the alpha channel of 43 %, background on the alpha channel of 0,11 imp./min, for a measurement time of 60,000 s, the efficiency of registration on the beta channel of 30 %, background on the beta channel of 1,9 imp./min, for measurement time 60000 s. As a comparison sample for calculating total alpha activity, a sample with alpha radiation, 241Am (geometry 2π), is used. To calculate the total beta activity, a sample of beta-emitter of potassium sulfate with radionuclide is used at 40K (geometry 2π). The weight of the counting sample ranges from 200 to 1000 mg. The activity values are calculated automatically, using the software ALBA 2000, v.2.5.6. Measurement of the total activity of radionuclides in counting samples using the method should be performed only in calibrated geometries. At the same time, the safety requirements, personnel qualifications, and test conditions must be met. Quality control of measurements in the alpha, beta counter ALBA-2000 v.2.5.6. It is carried out in qualitative and quantitative ways.