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

[Frank Helk]

Hi there,

>Am-241 is normally used as a reference gamma source to normalise
>(stabilise?) the response of the NaI(Tl) detector.

I think you're right - the Am-241 is built in to serve as a reference standard. With that as a given constant point you can relate all your other 
measurement data on that, to compensate i.e. temp drift etc.

Regards

           Frank



>Regards,
>Robert Atkinson.

>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
>Behalf Of Marcel Schouwenburg
>Sent: 26 June 2006 11:18
>To: radsafe at radlab.nl
>Subject: [ RadSafe ] Question about the role of Am-241 (as stabilizer)
>in a Cm-244/Am-241 source for an XRF-analyzer

>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
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