LSC for Gross Alpha Counting

["Andrew Welsh" <welsha@kbpnfs03.eskom.co.za>]

Hi everyone

We are about to replace our 15-year-old Beckman LS Counter, probably 
with a new Beckman or Packard unit.

While we need to replace it just for tritium analyses, we are hoping 
to be able to perform gross alpha analyses as well, which would 
provide a backup for our gas-proportional counter.

Our samples (nuclear power plant) typically contain very high beta 
activity but negligible alpha activity.  One can configure a 
gas-proportional counter such that the beta crosstalk is practically 
non-existent (<0.001%) in order to achieve acceptable alpha detection 
limits.

What I would like to know is, can the beta crosstalk on modern LS 
counters be reduced to that sort of level.  ANY false positive alphas 
at all would be a problem for us.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Andrew


Andrew Welsh
Chemistry Development Section
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
Private Bag X10
KERNKRAG 7440
South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)21 5504298
Fax: +27 (0)21 5505117
E-mail: welsha@kbpnfs01.eskom.co.za