用激光计数放射性氪原子

原子阱痕量分析是一种基于激光的新方法,能够对数微升氪气中丰度低至10^-14的⁸⁵Kr和⁸¹Kr原子进行计数测量．介绍了在合肥建成的痕量放射性氪同位素测量系统,包括ATTA装置、水中溶解气提取和氪气分离提纯的样品处理设备．利用该系统对国内多处大气中⁸⁵Kr浓度的测量结果为1.3～1.6 Bq/m³,与文献中北半球大气本底值相吻合．对华南和华北的几个浅层和深层地下水样品进行了⁸⁵Kr和⁸¹Kr测年,示范了该系统的应用．     

Simultaneous measurements of indoor radon and thoron and inhalation dose assessment in Douala City,Cameroon

ABSTRACT

Radon, thoron and associated progeny measurements have been carried out in 71 dwellings of Douala city, Cameroon. The radon–thoron discriminative detectors (RADUET) were used to estimate the radon and thoron concentration, while thoron progeny monitors measured equilibrium equivalent thoron concentration (EETC). Radon, thoron and thoron progeny concentrations vary from 31?±?1 to 436?±?12 Bq?m^–3, 4?±?7 to 246?±?5 Bq?m^–3, and 1.5?±?0.9 to 13.1?±?9.4 Bq?m^–3. The mean value of the equilibrium factor for thoron is estimated at 0.11?±?0.16. The annual effective dose due to exposure to indoor radon and progeny ranges from 0.6 to 9?mSv?a^–1 with an average value of 2.6?±?0.1?mSv?a^–1. The effective dose due to the exposure to thoron and progeny vary from 0.3 to 2.9?mSv?a^–1 with an average value of 1.0?±?0.4?mSv?a^–1. The contribution of thoron and its progeny to the total inhalation dose ranges from 7 to 60?% with an average value of 26?%; thus their contributions should not be neglected in the inhalation dose assessment.     

Vergleichende Untersuchungen an 85Kr und 133Xe als Tracer

Auf der Grundlage theoretischer und experimenteller Untersuchungen wurde überprüft, inwieweit ⁸³Kr durch ¹³³Xc als Tracer bei Strömungs-, Volumenstrom-, Gasaustausch- und Vermischungsmessungen ersctzt werden kann. Insbesondere wurde die Effektivität verschiedener Detektortypen und der Empfangsradius in Luft gegenüber der Strahlung dieser Radionuklide ermittelt. Es zeigte sich, daβ trotz Einsatz des effektivsten, betaempfindlichen Zählrohrtyps zur Erzielung vergleichbarer Impulsdichten ein höherer Aktivitätseinsatz bei ¹³³Xe im Vergleich zu ⁸⁵Kr erforderlich ist. Der Einsatz von Szintillationsmeβsonden erhöht die Effektivität, allerdings auf Kosten der räumlichen Auflösung.

On the basis of theoretical and experimental investigations the possibility of substituting the radionuclide ⁸⁵Kr by the radionuclide ¹³³Xe as tracer for flow-, hold-up time (residual time)-, exchange rate- and mixing measurements in gases was tested. Especially the efficiency of several different counters and the range of the radiation in air (receiving radius) from these radionuclides was estimated. The results show that despite applying the commercially available, most effective β-sensitive counters for achieving similar pulse rates a higher activity of ¹³³Xe in comparison to used activity of ⁸⁵Kr is needed. Using scintillation measuring probes the effectivity is increased, but at the expense of the spatial resolution.     

Hyperfine structure induced isotopic effects in krypton resonance ionization mass spectrometry

A time-of-flight mass spectrometer combined with a pulsed laser system has been used for determination of krypton isotope ratios of air samples containing 10⁶-10⁷ krypton atoms. A three-color, doubly resonant ionization scheme employing a 116.48 nm transition from the ground into the first 4s²4p⁵(²P°_1/2)5s J = 1 excitation level has been applied. The magnitude of a hyperfine splitting of this level has been estimated for ⁸¹Kr, ⁸³Kr and ⁸⁵Kr isotopes. Hyperfine structure induced isotopic effects have been investigated under different saturation conditions and found to be negligible when the first and the second transitions are strongly saturated.     

从环境样品中分离氩气和氪气用于放射性惰性气体探测

放射性惰性气体同位素⁸⁵Kr(半衰期为10.8年)、³⁹Ar(半衰期为269年)和⁸¹Kr(半衰期为22.9万年)是理想的环境示踪剂,基于激光技术的原子阱痕量分析方法(Atom trap trace analysis, ATTA)可以实现对空气、地下水等环境样品中这几种同位素的有效探测. 在进行ATTA测量之前,需要将样品中的氪气和氩气有效分离出来. 利用低温蒸馏、海绵钛化学吸附和气相色谱分离等技术,可以从1~10 L气体样品中分别提取出90%以上的氪气和98%以上的氩气,从而满足ATTA测量的样品要求. 通过对包括两个野外地下水样品等一系列样品进行分离实验,验证了气体分离装置的可靠性能.     

Detection of very rare isotopes by laser collinear resonant ionization of fast atoms

Results are presented of the work on the development of a method for detecting ultra rare isotopes, based on the collinear isotope-selective laser ionization of atoms in a fast bearn. The rare isotope³He was detected at a selectivity of 10⁹ and isotope-selective ionization of krypton atoms was demonstrated. A scheme is suggested for detecting the rare radioactive isotopes⁸⁵Kr and⁸¹Kr. The technique has been exploited for the measurement of hyperfine structures and isotope shifts of unstable Yb isotopes.     

Natural radioactivity and radiation hazards assessment of soil samples from the area of Tuzla and Lukavac,Bosnia and Herzegovina

The results of activity concentration measurements of natural occurring radioactive nuclides ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K in surface soil samples collected in the area of cities Tuzla and Lukavac, northeast region of Bosnia and Herzegovina were presented. Soil sampling was conducted at the localities that are situated in the vicinity of industrial zones of these cities. The measured activity was in the range from (8?±?4) to (95?±?28) Bq kg^–1 for ²³⁸U, from (0.41?±?0.06) to (4.6?±?0.7) Bq kg^–1 for ²³⁵U, from (7?±?1) to (66?±?7) Bq kg^–1 for ²³²Th, from (6?±?1) to (55?±?6) Bq kg^–1 for ²²⁶Ra, and from (83?±?12) to (546?±?55) Bq kg^–1 for ⁴⁰K. In order to evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity for people living near industrial zones, the absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose and the radium equivalent activity have been calculated and compared with the internationally approved values.     

Atom trap trace analysis

A new method of ultrasensitive isotope trace analysis has been developed. This method, based on the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms, has been used to count individual ⁸⁵Kr and ⁸¹Kr atoms present in a natural krypton gas sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10⁻¹¹ and 10⁻¹³, respectively. The method is free of contamination from other isotopes and elements, and can be applied to many different isotope tracers for a wide range of applications. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Radon levels in underground workplaces – results of a nationwide survey in Italy

In Italy an extensive survey has been carried out with the aim to evaluate annual average radon concentration in underground workplaces.The survey covered 933 underground rooms located in 311 bank workplaces spread throughout in all Italian regions; at this scope the sampling was stratified random in order to be representative on national scale. The annual radon concentration was estimated by using passive radon dosemeters (NRPB/SSI type holder and CR-39 as detector): the devices were exposed for a period of about 3 months and 4 cycles were performed to cover a solar year. The radon levels in underground workplaces ranged from 27 to 4851 Bq/m³ with an overall mean value of 153 Bq/m³. As expected, radon distribution is not uniform throughout Italy: in several regions high radon annual averages have been found, confirming previous surveys.The analysis of data shows a high variability among regions and intra-region but low spread among rooms belonging to the same workplace.About 5% of underground workplaces displayed radon concentration exceeding 400 Bq/m³, and the 4.4% exceeds 500 Bq/m³, the national action level for the exposure to natural radioactivity in workplaces.     

Transition probabilities in Kr II and Kr III spectra

On the basis of the relative line intensity ratio (RLIR) method, transition probability values of the spontaneous emission (Einsteins A values) of 14 transitions in the singly (Kr II) and 7 transitions in doubly (Kr III) ionized krypton spectra have been obtained relatively to the reference A values related to the 435.548 nm Kr II and 324.569 nm Kr III, the most intensive transitions in the Kr II and Kr III spectra. Our Kr III transition probability values are the first data obtained experimentally using the RLIR method. A linear, low-pressure, pulsed arc operated in krypton discharge was used as an optically thin plasma source at a 17 000 K electron temperature and 1.65 x 10²³ m^-3 electron density. Our experimental relative A values are compared with previous experimental and theoretical data.Received: 16 June 2003, Published online: 16 September 2003PACS: 52.70.Kz Optical (ultraviolet, visible, infrared) measurements - 32.70.Cs Oscillator strengths, lifetimes, transition moments - 32.70.Fw Absolute and relative intensities     

Isomers of astrophysical interest in neutron-deficient nuclei at masses A = 81, 85 and 86

Decay properties of neutron-deficient exotic nuclei close to A=80 have been investigated at the IGISOL facility. The studied nuclei, ⁸¹Y, ⁸¹Sr, ^81mKr, ⁸⁵Nb, ⁸⁵Zr, ⁸⁶Mo and ⁸⁶Nb, were produced by a ³²S beam from the Jyv?skyl? isochronous cyclotron on ⁵⁴Fe and ^natNi targets. The internal conversion coefficient for a 190.5 keV isomeric transition in ^81mKr has been measured and the internal transition rate has been determined. The internal transition rate has been used to estimate a neutrino capture rate on ⁸¹Br, which yields a log ft of 5.13±0.09 for the reaction ⁸¹Br( ν, e ^-)^81mKr. A new isomer with a half-life of 3.3±0.9 s has been observed in ⁸⁵Nb. The existence of an earlier reported isomer with a half-life of 56 s in ⁸⁶Nb has not been confirmed.     

Neutron production with mixture of deuterium and krypton in Sahand Filippov type plasma focus facility

This Letter reports the order of magnitude enhancement in neutron yield from Sahand plasma focus device with krypton seeded deuterium operation. The highest average neutron yield of 2.2×¹⁰⁹ neutrons per shot was achieved at 1.00 Torr deuterium with 3% krypton which is higher than the best average neutron yield of 3.18×¹⁰⁸ neutrons per shot for pure deuterium operation. Estimation of average neutron energy showed that the maximum and minimum average energies are 2.98±0.6 MeV at 16 kV in 0.25 Torr deuterium with 3% Kr and 2.07±0.2 MeV at 18 kV operation in 0.5 Torr deuterium with 3% Kr, respectively. The anisotropy of neutron emission from Sahand DPF showed that the neutrons are produced mainly by beam-target mechanisms.     

Ion-pulse ionization chamber for direct measurement of radon concentration in the air

A large-volume (24.8l in total volume, 16.8l in fiducial volume) multiwire pulse ion collection ionization chamber was examined as a detector of α particles from radon decays in the air inside the chamber. The possibility of obtaining spectrometric information from slow ion pulses was tested. An energy resolution of 3.9% for 5.49-MeV α particles was obtained in preliminary measurements. It was shown that a detector of this kind could be used for direct measurements of radon activities in flowing air at a level less than 1 Bq/m³. A radon concentration at a level of 10 Bq/m³ can be measured with an accuracy better than 10 % for a counting time of 10³ s. The detector will be used for continuous accurate monitoring of the ²²²Rn concentration in the air of low-background laboratories.     

A comparative study of indoor radon levels and inhalation dose in some areas of Punjab and Haryana, India

Indoor radon concentrations have been measured for two consecutive half-year periods in a wide range of dwellings of some regions of Punjab and Haryana states. The objective was to find correlation between the variations of indoor radon levels with the sub-soil, local geology, type of building materials, etc. of the two regions. So keeping this in view the indoor radon measurements have been carried out in the dwellings of different villages around the Tusham ring complex, Bhiwani District, Haryana, known to be composed of acidic volcanics and the associated granites along with some villages of Amritsar District, Punjab. The indoor radon concentration in the dwellings around Tusham (Haryana) have been found to be varying from 120.5±95 to 915.2±233 Bq m⁻³, whereas it ranges from 60.0±37 to 235.6±96 Bq m⁻³ for the dwellings of Punjab. The ²²²Rn concentration observed at most of locations particularly around Tusham ring complex region is higher than that of all the villages studied in Punjab region. Local geology including embedded granitic rocks, sub-soil, etc. as well as building materials having higher radioactive content are the major contributors for the higher indoor radon levels observed in the dwelling around Tusham, where few dwellings have higher radon concentrations than the ICRP, 1993 recommendations. The annual effective dose equivalent has also been estimated for each location of the both regions, which has been found to be varying from 1.0 to 17.2 mSv/y.     

Influences on indoor radon concentrations in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

The influences on indoor radon concentrations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia survey was carried out for 786 dwellings. The measurements were obtained by using a passive integrating ionization system with an E-Perm^® Electret ion chamber. Radon levels ranged from 1 to 195 Bq m⁻³, with a mean value of 24.68 Bq m⁻³, the geometric mean and the geometric standard deviation are 21 and 2 respectively. 98.5% of the results were below the action level recommended by WHO of 100 Bq.m⁻³. The results were found to vary substantially due to types of houses and rooms, ventilation, seasons and building materials. Radon concentrations were higher in houses with no ventilation systems, and central air conditioners, and were relatively lower in well ventilated houses with red bricks and water air conditioners.     

The hyperfine field of krypton in iron

The hyperfine field of krypton nuclei at lattice sites in iron has been determined using nuclear orientation. From the anisotropy of the electrons emitted in the decay of⁸⁵Kr implanted in iron, a hyperfine field value of +31.2(8) T was deduced for a substitutional fraction of approximately 37%. Also, a relaxation time of the order of 900 see was observed at temperatures between 7 and 11 mK.     

New stage of search for 2K(2ν) capture of 78Kr

A technique to search for 2K capture of ⁷⁸Kr with a large low-background proportional counter filled with a sample of krypton enriched in ⁷⁸Kr up to 99.8% at a pressure of 4.51 atm is described in this paper. The results of first measurements are presented. An analysis of data collected for 159 h yielded a new limit to the half-life of ⁷⁸Kr with regard to 2K capture (T _1/2 ≥ 1.5 × 10²¹ yr (90% C.L.)). The sensitivity of the facility to the process for one year of measurement was evaluated to be S = 1.0 × 10²² yr (90% C.L.). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Statistical relationship between activity concentrations of radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K,and 137Cs and geological formations in surface soil of Jordan

An extensive study was conducted to determine the activity concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs in soil samples of each governate of Jordan. A total of 370 samples have been measured using a high-purity germanium detector. The activity concentration for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs has mean values of 42?±?3, 23?±?3, 309?±?21, and 3.7?±?0.9 Bq kg^–1, respectively. The highest mean activity concentration for ²²⁶Ra was found to be 138?±?4 Bq kg^–1 in the Alkarak governate. In the Ajloun and Jarash governates, the highest mean activity concentration was 35?±?3 Bq kg^–1 for ²³²Th, and 14.2?±?1.9 Bq kg^–1 for ¹³⁷Cs, respectively. Geological influence on the activity concentrations was investigated using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples. The ANOVA results indicate that there are strong significant differences between the activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs based on geological formations the radionuclides occur. The main contribution to gamma dose rate was due to ²²⁶Ra activity concentration. Radium equivalent and external hazard index are associated with a mean value of 98 Bq kg^–1, and 0.266, respectively.     

A new laser concept for isotopically selective analysis of noble gases

A new laser approach for the isotopically selective analysis of noble gases is presented. This approach uses noble gas atoms prepared in the 1s ⁵ metastable state. Hyperfine levels in the 1s ⁵ and 2p ⁹ states form two-level systems in Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe which can be excited by a commercially available single-frequency laser system. Absorption of photons from such a laser, and the resulting momentum transfer, can be used to selectively deflect the desired isotope from a supersonic atomic beam into a detection area. Light from the same laser can then be used to selectively count atoms of the desired isotope using the photon-burst technique. Thus, enrichment and selective detection are accomplished with a single laser in a single pass through the apparatus.The problem of analyzing for⁸⁵Kr in a sample of noble gases extracted from the air is examined in detail. This is a stringent test of the selectivity of this approach because⁸⁵Kr has the same nuclear spin, and thus similar hyperfine splittings, as naturally occurring⁸³Kr. Calculations indicate that isotopic selectivity of the new approach is easily adequate to resolve⁸⁵Kr in a 10¹⁰ excess of⁸³Kr.