COLUMN SCANNING WITH SIMULTANEOUS USE OF 241AM AND 137CS GAMMA RADIATION

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Abstract
An 241Am and a 137Cs source with two single amplifier/discriminator systems are used simultaneously. Special attention is paid to a negligible influence of the Cs source in the Am channel, resulting in a cross-source-position layout. A residual Cs contribution of about 10 c.p.s. remains in the Am channel, which can easily be corrected. A soil column scanner is described in detail.Punch tape output permits fast data assimilation. The results of a number of calibration studies are presented. Variation in mass attenuation coefficients for soil seriously limits the use of this technique in natural soil columns.Statistical accuracy is low compared to a single moisture determination. In spite of both heavy sources a counting time of at least 1 min is preferable.Finally, an experiment with a swelling clay soil clearly demonstrates the possibilities of the simultaneous use of both radioisotopes. An 241Am and a 137Cs source with two single amplifier/discriminator systems are used simultaneously. Special attention is paid to a negligible influence of the Cs source in the Am channel, resulting in a cross-source-position layout. A residual Cs contribution of about 10 c.p.s. remains in the Am channel, which can easily be corrected. A soil column scanner is described in detail. Punch tape output permits fast data assimilation. The results of a number of calibration studies are presented. Variation in mass attenuation coefficients for soil seriously limits the use of this technique in natural soil columns. Statistical accuracy is low compared to a single moisture determination. In spite of both heavy sources a counting time of at least 1 min is preferable. Finally, an experiment with a swelling clay soil clearly demonstrates the possibilities of the simultaneous use of both radioisotopes. © Williams & Wilkins 1974. All Rights Reserved.

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