Abstract
239 Np is an important nuclide as the decay daughter of 239 U and it decays to 239 Pu by emitting beta particles and gamma rays with a half life of 2.356 days. The data of the emission probabilities of its gamma-rays in the open references are consistent except for the main gamma-ray of 106.1 keV, the emission probability of which varies from 25.9% to 27.2%. To verify the emission probability of 106.1 keV gamma-ray of 239 Np, a N-type coaxial HPGe detector was calibrated using 241 Am, 133 Ba, 60 Co, 152 Eu and 155 Eu reference gamma sources to get the accurate efficiency of the 106.1 keV gamma-ray. 239 Np was purified from solution containing 243 Am, where 239 Np is the alpha decay daughter of 243 Am. The specific activity of 239Np solution was determined by a 4πβ (PC)-γ coincidence counting device. There were 6 gamma sources prepared to measure with the HPGe detector, and the activity of 239 Np in each gamma source was calculated with the weights of the solution contained in it. The emission probability of 106.1 keV of 239 Np is measured to be (25.4 ± 0.3)%, which is consistent with 25.34%, the value evaluated in 2014.
Highlights
The neptunium isotope 239Np is a short-lived γ and β particle emitting radionuclide, with a half-life about 56.5 hours
We focus on the γ -ray emission probability determination
In order to get pure 239Np solution, chemical separation should be done by the following steps: 1) Appropriately mix 243Am solution and 10 ml HNO3 solution of 0.1 M concentration; 2) Transfer the solution mentioned above to a CLP204 cylinder, collect the solution outflow from this cylinder which should only contains 239Np, and record the time; a e-mail: shangjianbo@nint.ac.cn
Summary
The neptunium isotope 239Np is a short-lived γ and β particle emitting radionuclide, with a half-life about 56.5 hours It decay towards 239Pu with β and γ particle emission. It can be produced by disintegration of 243Am. 239Np is of great importance as a chemical yield tracer for the radiochemical determination of 237Np in samples [1]. The absence of standardized solutions and the poor quality of the associated decay scheme data inhibited the use of 239Np. The absence of standardized solutions and the poor quality of the associated decay scheme data inhibited the use of 239Np For this purpose, gamma emission probabilities of 239Np were determined in this work
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