Application of the new Monte Carlo code AlfaMC to the calibration of alpha-particle sources

作者：Jurado Vargas Miguel; Fernandez Timon Alfonso; Garcia Orellana Carlos

来源：Nukleonika, 2015, 60(3): 651-655.

DOI：10.1515/nuka-2015-0113

• alpha-particle spectrometry
• code AlfaMC
• Monte Carlo simulation
• scattering and self-absorption

Measurements of alpha-particle sources require corrections to the counting rate due to scattering and self-absorption in the source and the backing material. In this study, we describe a simple procedure to estimate these corrections using the new Monte Carlo code AlfaMC to consider the effects of scattering and self-absorption conjointly, and so to determine the activity of alpha emitters. The procedure proposed was applied to (UO2)-U-235 sources deposited on highly polished platinum backings. In general, the dependence of the efficiency with source thickness was in good agreement with a simple model considering a linear and a hyperbolic behavior for thin and thick sources, respectively, although significant deviations from this model were found for very thin sources. For these very thin sources, the Monte Carlo simulation revealed to be as a required method in the primary calibration of alpha-particle sources. The efficiency results obtained by simulation with AlfaMC were in agreement with available efficiency data.

• 出版日期2015-9