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A simple method of analysing alpha spectra of environmental natural uranium samples

1989; Elsevier BV; Volume: 276; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0168-9002(89)90646-3

1872-9576

F. Vera Tomé, A. Martı́n Sánchez,

Radioactivity and Radon Measurements

Alpha spectrometry of natural uranium was performed using a 232U spike. In order to calculate in an accurate manner the area corresponding to each isotope in the spectrum, it is necessary to consider the low-energy tail from higher-energy emitters and the branching-ratio corrections. To correct for the low-energy tail a method is described which assumes the same form for the block of peaks for each isotope and the same form for each of the isolated peaks (in the case of 228Th). The branching-ratio correction is made taking isolated peaks as having the same form. Checks with a standard source show that the 235U238U activity ratio is calculated reliably, which appears to be a significant innovation for a simple method especially suitable for environmental measurements. The simple computer BASIC program ACURA has been developed in order to perform all the indicated operations.