Radioactive Decay Data Tables

["Richard, Mack L" <mrichar@iupui.edu>]

Radsafers:

This question came from the director of our nuclear medicine technology
training program.  The reference entitled "Radioactive Decay Data Tables - A
Handbook of Decay Data for Application to Radiation Dosimetry and
Radiological Assessments"  (David C. Kocher - NTIS Publication) provides
decay data for a large number of radionuclides.  The energy (keV), intensity
(%), and mean energy emitted per cumulative activity (g-rad/uCi-h) is
provided for each radiation emitted from a given radionuclide.

When examining the data tables, it is noted that in most cases, the value
for the radiation energy and the value for the intensity is followed by a
space and then an integer.  For example, the energy data for Be-7 indicates
a gamma energy of 477.593 12 with an intensity of 10.42 10.  Does anyone
know what the numbers "12" and the "10" mean?  I reviewed the information
prior to the data tables and can't find anything regarding the relevance of
these numbers.

My bit of radiation trivia for the week.

Mack L. Richard, M.S., C.H.P.
Radiation Safety Officer - Indiana Univ. Med. Cntr.
Phone #: (317) 274-0330   Fax #: (317) 274-2332
E-Mail Address:  mrichar@iupui.edu

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