[ RadSafe ] Question about the role of Am-241 (as stabilizer) in a Cm-244/Am-241 source for an XRF-analyzer

[Marcel Schouwenburg]

Dear RadSafers,

Can anybody tell me, or point me to a reference, what the precise 
function is of about 1 MBq Am-241 (30 microCi) in a 1 GBq Cm-244 (30 
milliCi) XRF-source? The Am-241 is said to function as a stabilizer in 
the source, but the exact role of the Am-241 is not clear to me 
(chemical stabilizer?).

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

With kind regards,

Marcel Schouwenburg
Head Training Centre Delft / RadSafe moderator & listowner
National Centre for Radiation Protection (Dutch abbr. NCSV)

Faculty of Applied Sciences / Reactor Institute Delft
Delft University of Technology
Mekelweg 15
NL - 2629 JB  DELFT
The Netherlands
Phone +31 (0)15 27 86575
Fax     +31 (0)15 27 81717
email   m.schouwenburg at tudelft.nl