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Reference, Questions and Help => Nuke Q&A => Instrument Q&A => Topic started by: atomicarcheologist on Nov 17, 2014, 07:08

Title: Field analytical equipment
Post by: atomicarcheologist on Nov 17, 2014, 07:08
If you were on a field assignment, digging up RAM and your count tech told you a hot sample IDed at Th234 what would your reaction(s)  be?
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: Rennhack on Nov 17, 2014, 09:44
How hot?  Just above 'background', or like 6 Zillion curies?
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: Marlin on Nov 17, 2014, 10:53
Quote from: Atomic Archeologist on Nov 17, 2014, 07:08
If you were on a field assignment, digging up RAM and your count tech told you a hot sample IDed at Th234 what would your reaction(s)  be?

Only Th234?
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: atomicarcheologist on Nov 17, 2014, 11:40
1mCi/gm

Th234 lone isotope
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: Marlin on Nov 17, 2014, 12:42
Quote from: Atomic Archeologist on Nov 17, 2014, 11:40
1mCi/gm

Th234 lone isotope

Not possible with it's short half life without the rest of the decay chain. You need a better library in your gamma spec. Send sample to a lab.
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: Marlin on Nov 17, 2014, 12:47
Quote from: Marlin on Nov 17, 2014, 12:42
Not possible with it's short half life without the rest of the decay chain. You need a better library in your gamma spec. Send sample to a lab.

While waiting do a half life if you saved the sample.
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: atomicarcheologist on Nov 17, 2014, 01:39
Quote from: Marlin on Nov 17, 2014, 12:47
While waiting do a half life if you saved the sample.
Yeah, we're digging RAM from the 60s to early new millenium... that T1/2 thing is a bit of a problem...

I was more interested in reactions to the scenario, to scale against mine, rather than technical solutions.
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: Marlin on Nov 17, 2014, 01:49
Quote from: Atomic Archeologist on Nov 17, 2014, 01:39
Yeah, we're digging RAM from the 60s to early new millenium... that T1/2 thing is a bit of a problem...

I was more interested in reactions to the scenario, to scale against mine, rather than technical solutions.

Gothcha... reaction is "bogus"  ;)
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: atomicarcheologist on Nov 17, 2014, 02:50
Quote from: Marlin on Nov 17, 2014, 01:49
Gothcha... reaction is "bogus"  ;)
Interesting, I'll have to remember that in the future. My reaction was, shall I say, a bit less reserved...  ;)
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: Chimera on Nov 18, 2014, 09:06
Quote from: Atomic Archeologist on Nov 17, 2014, 11:40
1mCi/gm

Th234 lone isotope

With what degree of confidence?  It may be time to go back to the old-fashioned way and hand-identify all isotopes based on the peaks in your printout.  With the wrong library, your equipment may not be able to identify what it's seeing and is, instead, looking for the best fit from its library.
Title: Re: Field analytical equipment
Post by: atomicarcheologist on Nov 18, 2014, 02:02
So, if you were told to use a 2350-1 in single digit temperatures, what would your reaction be?