Defined Solid Angle (DSA)

counting at NPL
Arzu Arinc*, Michael J Parfitt, John D Keightley, Alan Wilson
National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW, United Kingdom
*Email: arzu.arinc@npl.co.uk

Introduction

Solid angle measurement

Defined solid angle alpha counting is potentially one of the most accurate primary standardisation methods available
for alpha emitting radionuclides (Pomm, 2007). With the assumption that all alpha particles that pass the diaphragm
are detected, the detection efficiency is directly derived from the solid angle subtended between the source and the
diaphragm, with the observed count rate divided by the geometry factor 4, after correction for background and
dead-time losses.

The determination of the solid angle subtended

between the source and diaphragm (see figure 3) is
most readily realised using Monte Carlo simulation
methods. Realistic source, detector and diaphragm
configurations include eccentric source locations,
sources of finite size, including annular sources
and the thickness of the diaphragm edge. A suite
of dedicated Monte Carlo simulation routines
have been developed at NPL in C++ as exportable
functions residing in a 32-bit Dynamic Link library.
Calculations of the solid angle with an uncertainty of
better than 0.1% (k= 1) are achievable.

Maximising geometrical
reproducibility
During the design work various steps were taken to
maximise the reproducibility:

Figure 2: CAD representation of

the DSA counting system showing
the retractable positioning
platform with the source holder,
the anti-scattering baffles,
diaphragm, detector, preamplifier
and the outer shell of the
chamber.

2 Rd
diaphragm

Use of three legs to define the source-diaphragm

distance (see figure 1) as its easier to manufacture the
parts accurately and have a good parallelism with this
design
Tight tolerances on the manufacture of the parts that
contribute to the distance between the source holder
and the diaphragm six in total for each geometry
Source introduced into the counting chamber from
underneath using a retractable positioning platform to
improve the vertical accuracy
Individual parts numbered (1, 2 and 3) to ensure there is
only one way of putting the system together
Use of a torque wrench to apply the same tension to the
screws at each assembly

Figure 3: Solid angle

() subtended between
the source and the
diaphragm

disc

Initial measurements

Figure 1: Engineering
drawing of source
diaphragm assembly

Solutions of 241Am and 243Am previously

standardised as part of BIPM comparisons were
gravimetrically dispensed to 3 sources (X150073,
X150075 and X140158). The calculated and target
activities as well as the deviation observed for the
three sources can be seen in table 2. The calculated
activities are in agreement with the target activities.

This has led to excellent reproducibility of the

assembled systems at distances of 8, 12 and 15 cm
between the source holder and the diaphragm. The
results of the measurements of the distances, made
at NPL by the Measurement Service Group using a
precision co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM),
can be found in table 1. Differences of the order of a
few hundred nanometres between assemblies were
achieved.

The uncertainty on the solid angle includes

uncertainties on the source diaphragm distance, the
height of the steel discs, the radius and edge height
of the diaphragm and location of the activity on the
source. In the absence of autoradiography the latter
is by far the largest contributor.
Table 2: Measured data showing the calculated and target activity
concentrations and the relative difference between both in (%). The
reference dates are 1st December 2002 for X150073 and X150075 and
11 April 2014 for X140158. Uncertainties stated are for k=1. The target
activity concentrations are those obtained from independent primary
standardisation techniques, as described in the text.

Table 1: Reproducibility of the distance between source holder and

diaphragm holder (in mm) measured by an NPL maintained coordinate measuring machine (CMM) for the three counting geometries
available. Uncertainties quoted are for k=2.

Assembly
Number

8cm geometry
(mm)

12 cm geometry
(mm)

15 cm geometry
(mm)

80.3850 (6)

120.3219 (7)

150.3616 (7)

80.3857 (7)

120.3218 (7)

150.3621 (7)

80.3849 (7)

120.3208 (8)

150.3621 (7)

80.3850 (7)

120.3220 (6)

150.3624 (8)

Source ID
(nuclide)

Geometry

Calculated activity
concentration
(kBq g-1)

8 cm
12 cm
15 cm
8 cm
12 cm
15 cm
8 cm
12 cm
15 cm

294.16 0.96
294.17 0.99
293.88 0.97
293.76 0.61
293.72 0.62
293.15 0.61
40.88 0.18
40.85 0.18
40.89 0.37

X150073
(241Am)
X150075
(241Am)
X140158
(243Am)

Features of the counter

Target activity
(kBq g-1)
293.58 0.17

293.58 0.17

40.93 0.19

Relative
difference
(%)
0.20
0.20
0.10
0.06
0.05
-0.15
-0.12
-0.19
-0.20

A CAD model of the NPL counter can be seen in figure 2.

References
Pomm S., 2007. Methods for primary standardisation of activity. Metrologia 44, 17-26.

A high precision defined solid angle counter has been designed and built at NPL.
This equipment is under development however early results are promising and
efforts to make the counter assemblies reproducible have succeeded. The next
important step will be to reduce the uncertainty on the solid angle calculation by
use of autoradiography to obtain the real distribution of the activity on the surface
of the discs.

www.npl.co.uk

10977/0814
11194/0515

Conclusion

Queens Printer and Controller of HMSO, 2014.

Alpha disc is held in position in the holder with the use of 3 pins surrounding the disc
Alpha planchets with tight tolerance on the thickness were manufactured
Same material is used throughout the aperture frame, STAVAX ESR, to ensure the solid angle
is not affected by temperature fluctuation
System under vacuum to a pressure of around 40 mbar using a diaphragm pump
Diaphragm built with a vertical edge of about 0.140 mm
Anti-scattering baffles
Particles passing the diaphragm are detected by one of two large ion implanted silicon
detectors of active areas of 3000 mm2 and 5000 mm2 (see picture centre)
Dead-time losses are corrected for using a BNC PB5 tail pulse generator triggered by an
external 10 Hz oscillator