A comparison of 252Cf and 238Pu, Be neutron sources for partial-body in vivo activation analysis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A comparison is made of the isotopic neutron sources 252Cf and 238Pu, Be for partial-body in vivo neutron activation analysis. Depth distributions of thermal neutron fluences in a water phantom are very similar for the two sources. The peak depth occurs at 5 cm. This value is approximately 2 cm less than the values obtained with uncollimated neutrons produced in broad-beam irradiations. With respect to the fluence-to-dose ratio, the 252Cf neutrons have an advantage of approximately 1.4 over the 238Pu, Be source. The use of 252Cf offers two additional advantages for the investigator. First, it minimises the on-line fast-neutron damage in Ge(Li) semiconductor detectors. Secondly, it is subject to much less stringent transport regulations than 238Pu, Be. The latter feature takes on particular importance in view of the increasing usefulness of transportable instruments for in vivo cadmium measurements at the workplace.

This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit: