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A system for low-level the cosmogenic 22Na radionuclide measurement by gamma–gamma coincidence method using BGO detectors

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Abstract

In this study, a gamma–gamma coincidence spectrometry was developed and examined for environmental low-level cosmogenic 22Na monitoring purposes. The spectrometry consists of two bismuth germanate scintillators (BGO) and XIA LLC Digital Gamma Finder (DGF)/Pixie-4 software and card package. The developed spectrometry was optimized according to the considerations of output count rate and gamma peak energy resolution. This spectrometry provides a more sensitive and effective way to quantify even trace amounts of 22Na with critical detection limit of 9 mBq. A sophisticated computer simulation was also created with the goal of obtaining a better understanding of the experimental results and gamma–gamma coincidence efficiencies at different sample geometries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 1C1, Canada

    Weihua Zhang, Jing Yi, Pawel Mekarski, Ian Hoffman & Kurt Ungar

  2. Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Regional Laboratory in Northern Finland, Lähteentie 2, 96400, Rovaniemi, Finland

    Ari-Pekka Leppänen

Authors
  1. Weihua Zhang
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  2. Jing Yi
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  3. Pawel Mekarski
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  4. Ian Hoffman
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  5. Kurt Ungar
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  6. Ari-Pekka Leppänen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Weihua Zhang.

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Zhang, W., Yi, J., Mekarski, P. et al. A system for low-level the cosmogenic 22Na radionuclide measurement by gamma–gamma coincidence method using BGO detectors. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 287, 551–555 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-010-0758-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-010-0758-3

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