Simulation of Beta Ray Spectra in Liquid Scintillation Counting System by means of Monte Carlo Method

Monte Carlo 계산에 의한 액체섬광계수기의 베타선 스펙트럼 Simulation

  • Yi, Chul-Young (Department of Physics, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Jun, Jae-Shik (Department of Physics, Chungnam National University)
  • Published : 1993.11.30

Abstract

Beta ray spectra of $^3H,\;^{14}C\;and\;^{36}Cl$ in liquid scintillation counting system have been calculated using the Monte Carlo method by which physical behaviors of particle transport in medium were simulated. The calculations have been carried out on the basis of beta rays being slowing down according to the continuous slowing down approximation(CSDA) model. Beta rays generated in simulation geometry were traced until they lost their energy below 0.3keV that in known to be the detection limit in the liquid scintillation counter. Scintillator solution in which pure beta emitting radionuclides were dissolved uniformly was assumed to be bottled in the shape of right circular cylinder with 12.5mm in radius and 35mm in height. The comparison of the calculated and measured results showed satisfactory agreement between those two, with slight discrepancy due to self quenching in the case of lower energy of emitted beta particles in the solution.

액체섬광 계수기에 대한 $^3H,\;^{14}C,\;^{36}Cl$의 베타선 스펙트럼의 시뮬레이션을 Monte Carlo 법으로 수행하였다. 베타선의 손실에너지는 'continuous slowing down approximation(CSDA)' 모형으로부터 구하였다. 순 베타방출 핵종이 균일하게 용해되어 있는 섬광용액은 $1.25cm{\times}3.5cm$의 원통형 geome try로 가정하였다. $^{14}C,\;^{36}Cl$에 대한 계산결과는 계수효율의 경우 실험 값과 2%의 범위 내에서 잘 일치하였으나 $^3H$에 대해서는 상당한 편차를 나타내었다. 이는 저 에너지 베타선에 대한 섬광용액 자체의 quenching 효과에 기인하는 것으로 판단된다.

Keywords