• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.179-189
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• 2001

The determination of trace concentration of U, Th and Pb was carried out for chemical dating of zircon and monazite by electron microprobe. Detection limit and error range should be considered to measure characteristic X-rays of M-line from those minerals, which are low in the ionization of atom and low peak intensity in the spectrum. The element of U, Th and Pb were simultaneously measured with 3 spectrometers equipped with PET crystal to reduce a total counting time and error due to drift of instrumental operating condition. Detection limit could be improved from increase of the peak/background ratio through adjusting pulse height analyzer about 1000 mv baseline. Under permissible maximum analytical conditions, theoretical detection limit of U, Th and Pb is down to 30 ppm (99% confidence level). The analytical result was maintained at a relative error $\pm$10% ($2{\sigma}$) in 800 ppm Pb, $\pm$5% ($2{\sigma}$) in 2330 ppm U and $\pm$10% ($2{\sigma}$) in dating from a single measurement of zircon at 15 keV and 100 nA. However, for the precise dating of zircon and monazite, if it is considered a 3 $\mu\textrm{m}$ spatial resolution, <100 ppm ($3{\sigma}$) detection limit and <$\pm$10% ($2{\sigma}$) relative error, optimum analytical conditions are given as 15~20 keV accelerating voltage, 100~200 nA beam current and 300~1200 sec total counting time. To reduce material damage by high current, there is need to be up to 3~5 $\mu\textrm{m}$ of electron beam diameter, or to use arithmetic average of multiple measuring at a shorter counting time. A younger or relatively low concentration rocks can be dated chemically by lower detection limit and improved precision resulted from increase of current and measuring time.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2014

In the field of neutron detections, $^3He$ gas, the so-called "the gold standard," is the most widely used material for neutron detections because of its high efficiency in neutron capturing. However, from variable causes since early 2009, $^3He$ is being depleted, which has maintained an upward pressure on its cost. For this reason, the demands for $^3He$ replacements are rising sharply. Research into neutron converting materials, which has not been used well due to a neutron detection efficiency lower than the efficiency of $^3He$, although it can be chosen for use in a neutron detector, has been highlighted again. $^{10}B$, which is one of the $^3He$ replacements, such as $BF_3$, $^6Li$, $^{10}B$, $Gd_2O_2S$, is being researched by various detector development groups owing to a number of advantages such as easy gamma-ray discrimination, non-toxicity, low cost, etc. One of the possible techniques for the detection is an indirect neutron detection method measuring secondary radiation generated by interactions between neutrons and $^{10}B$. Because of the mean free path of alpha particle from interactions that are very short in a solid material, the thickness of $^{10}B$ should be thin. Therefore, to increase the neutron detection efficiency, it is important to make a $^{10}B$ thin film. In this study, we fabricated a $^{10}B$ thin film that is about 60 um in thickness for neutron detection using well-known technology for the manufacturing of a thin electrode for use in lithium ion batteries. In addition, by performing simple physical tests on the conductivity, dispersion, adhesion, and flexibility, we confirmed that the physical characteristics of the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film are good. Using the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film, we made a proportional counter for neutron monitoring and measured the neutron pulse height spectrum at a neutron facility at KAERI. Furthermore, we calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation the change of neutron detection efficiency according to the number of thin film layers. In conclusion, we suggest a fabrication method of a $^{10}B$ thin film using the technology used in making a thin electrode of lithium ion batteries and made the $^{10}B$ thin film for neutron detection using suggested method.