Measurement of Krypton-85 in samples of atmospheric with Quantulus 1220 device without using a liquid scintillator

TL;DR

This study explores measuring Krypton-85 activity in atmospheric samples using a Quantulus 1220 device without liquid scintillators, focusing on scintillation efficiency and Cherenkov radiation effects.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of detecting 85Kr activity with a solid-state device without liquid scintillators, highlighting the role of Cherenkov radiation in pulse amplitude.

Findings

Krypton scintillation efficiency is 3 keV/photon at partial pressures.

Pulse amplitudes from krypton scintillations are comparable to Cherenkov radiation signals.

Detection method is viable without liquid scintillators for 85Kr measurement.

Abstract

The possibility of measuring the 85Kr activity with a liquid scintillation spectrometer (LSS) by registering the scintillations in krypton was investigated. It was found that at partial pressure of krypton less than atmospheric, the conversion efficiency of krypton scintillators amounts to 3 keV/photon and is 20 times lower than the conversion efficiency of liquid scintillators. The amplitude of the pulses due to scintillations in krypton is approximately equal to the amplitude of the pulses from Cherenkov radiation which occurs in the walls of the vial under the influence of 85Kr beta particles.