Method
Radionuclides in natural and artificial materials can be detected and quantified by α-, β- or γ-spectrometry according to their decay properties. For the non-destructive measurement of short-lived and long-lived gamma emitters of ultra-low and medium activities, we routinely apply γ-spectrometry. This method allows the differentiation of mixed nuclides. Total activities of alpha and beta emitters are determined by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). Using α-spectrometry, even mixtures of alpha emitters can be analyzed simultaneously. For this, however, a chemical deposition becomes necessary. We also measure radiocarbon (C-14) with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS).
Examples of applications
- Determination of natural and artificial radionuclides
- Dating of sediment, peat or ice cores with Pb-210/Po-210 and Cs-137
- Detection of Cs-137 from the Chernobyl disaster in food samples
- C-14 dating
