Development of a Combination Detector

System for Simultaneous Measurement

of Alpha and Beta/Gamma Radioactivity

Vaishali M. Thakur1, P. Ashokkumar1, Rekha A K1, Amit

Jain1, D P Rath1, Probal Chaudhury1 and L. M. Chaudhari 2

1RadiationSafety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research

Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India,
2Department of Physics, Nowrosjee Wadia College, Pune 411001.
 Enclosure Pre
Amplifier Connectors

PMT
Pulse Shaping
Amplifier
ZnS(Ag)
HV
Plastic Scintillator LV

TTL TTL
Discriminator 1 Discriminator 2
Converter Converter

P89V51RD2
Controller Memory
Computer RS-232

Display
 50 mm

1 mg cm-2 mylar
entrance window 50 mm diameter x 10 mm
thick Perspex material

4.09 mg cm-2 13.6 mg cm-2

ZnS (Ag) detector plastic scintillator
Detector module with (a) unfinished (b) finished
light guide and (c) Light guide + detectors
 Software features

Software features
user friendly software
64 Kbyte EEPROM for data storage
Alpha and Beta channel counts upto 106
change of parameters
isotope library
watch dog timer
parameter validation check
Instrument specifications
Manufactured confirming to ANSI N 42.17.
 Table-1 Properties of various sources used during the study

Sl.No. Source Type of Energy Abundance Half life (y)

source (%)
(keV)
1 90Sr/90Y β 546 100 28.79
2280 99.84 2.67
2 137Cs β 513.97 94.36 30.02
1175.63 5.64
3 204Tl β 763.7 97.08 3.788
17.0 85.0 22.3
4 210Pb/210Bi β 63.5 15.0
1162.1 100 5.013 (days)
5 36Cl β 708.6 98.1 3.01 x105
6 239Pu α 5243.6 73.0 24100
7 238Pu α 5593.2 71.04 87.74
8 241Am α 5578.27 84.45 432.6
Table-2. Observed Efficiency values for various β sources

Beta channel
β counts to
Current Count rate in β
Efficienc alpha channel
Activity window
β-Source y

%
(Bq) (CPS) (%)

204Tl 0.0192
758.43 156.39 ± 1.47 20.62

210Pb/210Bi 0.0390
1419.72 307.46 ± 1.78 21.66

90Sr/90Y 0.2299
158.08 36.25 ± 0.87 22.93

36Cl 0.0160
2204.00 396.83 ± 1.58 18.01

137Cs 0
100.12 851.25 ± 12.87 14.17
Efficiency of the detector system for 137Cs sources prepared using
standard solution.
Efficienc β -counts
Activity Net CPM
Sample y in α –
No. channel
(Bq) Alpha Channel Beta Channel (%)
(%)
1 960.36 3.00 ± 0.71 8429 ± 32.11 14.63 0.04

2 1982.64 3.75 ± 0.43 16996.75 ± 107.17 14.29 0.02

3 2372.13 7.50 ± 2.60 20225.5 ± 61.69 14.21 0.04

4 582.33 1.75 ± 0.43 5385 ± 81.31 15.41 0.03
5 546.24 3.50 ± 1.80 4864.75 ± 35.11 14.84 0.07
6 531.37 1.7 5± 1.48 4441.25 ± 65.54 13.93 0.04
7 420.04 2.25 ± 1.09 3660.5 ± 56.98 14.52 0.06
8 439.09 1.25 ± 1.64 3898 ± 60.25 14.80 0.03
9 458.28 1.25 ± 1.09 4138.5 ± 48.06 15.05 0.03
10 103.26 0 905 ± 15.93 14.61 0
11 100.12 0 851.25 ± 12.87 14.17 0
Relation between Counts per Second (CPS) and activity of
137Cs sources prepared from standard solution.
 Table-5. Efficiency of the detector system for 239Pu sources used in laboratories.

Current Alpha Beta to

Alpha Beta
Source Activity Efficiency Alpha
CPS CPS
(Bq) % Ratio

Bkg 0.00333 0.67

Pu-238 2868.004 359.59 ± 1.25 653.18 ± 4.767 13.39 1.82

Am-241 7026.2 951.93 ± 5.98 1122.16 ± 9.213 13.86 1.1846

Pu-239 9.145 0.85 ± 0.0953 2.19 ± 0.331 9.31 2.58

Pu-239 21 2.61 ± 0.0480 6.63 ± 0.295 12.41 2.55

Pu-239 222 21.197 ± 0.43 53.85 ± 1.926 9.55 2.54

Efficiency variation of the CDS for different α sources used in laboratories

α counts
in β
Activity Net CPM Efficiency channel
Sample
No (Bq) Alpha channel Beta channel % Factor

1 11.00 63.50±5.79 163.25±13.41 9.62 2.57

2 21.00 156.00±2.87 402.50±9.22 12.38 2.58

3 222.00 1262.75±17.12 3203.25±39.89 9.48 2.54

4 9.15 58.75±1.79 151.50±2.12 10.71 2.58

5 74.15 493.25±2.86 1315.75±9.48 11.09 2.67

 25
y=0.107x
20 2
Counts Per Seconds (CPS) R =0.994

15

10

0 50 100 150 200 250

Activity (Bq)

Relation between Counts Per Second (CPS) and activity

of 239Pu Laboratory standard sources
Conclusion:
A CDS was developed for simultaneous assessment of
alpha and beta radioactivity content of
electrodeposited or planchetted samples. The β activity
counts in α count contribute less than 0.7 %. Counts
from α activity are added up in β which vary for
different sources. For 239Pu α measurements it is ~ 2.5
times. The pulse shaping techniques may improve α
to β counts spillover. Presently the system is being
successfully used for routine activity measurement in
one of our laboratories in BARC.
Features

System uses dual scintillator probe with lead collar to minimize gamma
background and gives excellent α and β efficiencies with minimal crosstalk.
Measures gross alpha-beta activity / contamination in air, water and other
environmental samples.
Variable HV (0-1500V), 0.5mA.
Electronics built-in facilitates simultaneous counting of α and β activity in a
given sample using dual scintillator probe.
Highly recommended for radio analytical labs / environmental survey
HV indication (optional)
Display : 20x4 LCD dot-matrix display has been provided to indicate data counts, Elapsed
Time and HV.
Counts Capacity : 1310700 counts.
Preset time : 1 to 9999 minutes. Settable through keypad or Serial port.
Counting channels (internal) :Two.
Data Storage :Upto 7000 readings.
Programmability : Includes selection of Preset Time, Storing / Recalling of data, starting and
stopping of acquisition, label assignment for data counts BG (Background) and SP (sample)
RTC :Built in RTC provides real time clock information which is stamped in the activity report
Data Communication Software :
Can be provided for serial transfer of data readings into PC.

Mechanical Dimensions :
256m(W)X135mm(H)X325mm(D) Approx.
 Acknowledgement
Authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Dr K.S. Pradeepkumar,
Associate Director, Health, Safety and Environment Group for his keen interest
in this work. Thanks are due to Pravin V. Sawant, Yogita Nivalkar and RSSD
workshop for their active association during development of this system.
References:
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