Nuclear decay data: Observations and reflections

Nichols, Alan L.

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2006.02.071

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…In spite of the vast theoretical and metrological knowledge on radioactivity accrued over more than a century, there are limits to the detail in which decay characteristics can be modelled or predicted and to the completeness and accuracy of the thousands of decay schemes. Surprisingly, many decay characteristics of even the most relevant <100 nuclides [11] are still in need of improvement for optimal use in applications for nuclear energy, medicine, safety and security, environmental monitoring, nuclear dating, astrophysics, etc [24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Many decay data were measured more than 50 years ago and new measurements offer advantages of advanced detection and data processing techniques, enhanced attention to uncertainty evaluation as well as harmonised and transparent reporting thereof using the concepts and terminology of the GUM [6].…”

Section: Known Unknownsmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the model doesn’t cover reality: examples from radionuclide metrology

Pommé

2016

Metrologia

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It could be argued that activity measurements of radioactive substances should be under statistical control, considering that the measurand is unambiguously defined, the radioactive decay processes are theoretically well understood and the measurement function can be derived from physical principles. However, comparisons invariably show a level of discrepancy among activity standardisation results that exceeds expectation from uncertainty evaluations. Also decay characteristics of radionuclides determined from different experiments show unexpected inconsistencies. Arguably, the problem lies mainly in incomplete uncertainty assessment. Of the various reasons leading to incomplete uncertainty assessment, from human failure to limitations to the state-of-the-art knowledge, a selection of cases is discussed in which imperfections in the modelling of the measurement process can lead to unexpectedly large underestimations of uncertainty.

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Section: Known Unknownsmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the model doesn’t cover reality: examples from radionuclide metrology

Pommé

2016

Metrologia

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“…It is of interest to the user community that the quality of decay data, and half-lives in particular, be improved [19,20]. Whether the applications are situated in the field of nuclear medicine, power generation, nuclear forensics, radioactive waste management, analytical techniques, astrophysics, geochronology, basic nuclear research or detector calibration using reference sources, there is generally a half-life correction factor involved for rescaling measured activities to a reference time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The uncertainty of the half-life

Pommé

2015

Metrologia

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Half-life measurements of radionuclides are undeservedly perceived as 'easy' and the experimental uncertainties are commonly underestimated. Data evaluators, scanning the literature, are faced with bad documentation, lack of traceability, incomplete uncertainty budgets and discrepant results. Poor control of uncertainties has its implications for the end-user community, varying from limitations to the accuracy and reliability of nuclearbased analytical techniques to the fundamental question whether half-lives are invariable or not. This paper addresses some issues from the viewpoints of the user community and of the decay data provider. It addresses the propagation of the uncertainty of the halflife in activity measurements and discusses different types of half-life measurements, typical parameters influencing their uncertainty, a tool to propagate the uncertainties and suggestions for a more complete reporting style. Problems and solutions are illustrated with striking examples from literature.

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Updated decay data evaluation for 68Ga

Kuzmenko

2019

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

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Nuclear decay data: Observations and reflections

Cited by 7 publications

References 77 publications

When the model doesn’t cover reality: examples from radionuclide metrology

When the model doesn’t cover reality: examples from radionuclide metrology

The uncertainty of the half-life

Updated decay data evaluation for 68Ga

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