Alpha-particle emission probabilities of ²³⁶U obtained by alpha spectrometry

Appl Radiat Isot. 2014 May:87:292-6. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.11.020. Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Abstract

High-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry was performed with an ion-implanted silicon detector in vacuum on a homogeneously electrodeposited (236)U source. The source was measured at different solid angles subtended by the detector, varying between 0.8% and 2.4% of 4π sr, to assess the influence of coincidental detection of alpha-particles and conversion electrons on the measured alpha-particle emission probabilities. Additional measurements were performed using a bending magnet to eliminate conversion electrons, the results of which coincide with normal measurements extrapolated to an infinitely small solid angle. The measured alpha emission probabilities for the three main peaks - 74.20 (5)%, 25.68 (5)% and 0.123 (5)%, respectively - are consistent with literature data, but their precision has been improved by at least one order of magnitude in this work.

Keywords: (236)U; Alpha spectrometry; Decay data; Emission probabilities.