Preparation of calibration sources of 88Kr and 138Xe for HPGe detector

A method of efficiency calibration for the measurement of ⁸⁸Kr and ¹³⁸Xe by HPGe γ-spectrometer is proposed in the present paper. The question for the efficient calibration is, how to achieve homogeneous sources of ⁸⁸Kr-⁸⁸Rb and ¹³⁸Xe-¹³⁸Cs. The fission product gases were obtained by irradiating a precisely measured amount of U₃O₈ (90% ²³⁵U) filled in a quartz glass ampoule. Source cell was first filled up with stearic acid, and then the fission product gases were charged into it. Xenon and krypton are not adsorbed on stearic acid, therefore, homogeneous sources of ⁸⁸Kr-⁸⁸Rb and ¹³⁸Xe-¹³⁸Cs can be prepared. The results of the experiment demonstrate that the method is feasible and successful.