Activity standardisation of 161Tb

Abstract

¹⁶¹Tb, which emits low-energy β^-- and γ-particles in addition to conversion and Auger electrons, has aroused increased interest for medical imaging and therapy. To support the use of this radionuclide, a¹⁶¹Tb solution was standardised using the β-γ coincidence technique, as well as the TDCR method. The solution had 4.5·10^-3% of ¹⁶⁰Tb impurities. Primary coincidence measurements, with plastic or liquid scintillators for beta detection, were carried out using both analogue and digital electronics. TDCR measurements using defocusing, grey filtering and quenching for varying the efficiency were also made. Monte Carlo calculations were used to compute the detection efficiency. The coincidence measurements with analogue electronics and the TDCR show a good consistency, and are compatible with the digital coincidence results within uncertainties. An ampoule of this solution was submitted to the BIPM as a contribution to the international reference system.

Keywords: (160)Tb; (161)Tb; 4πβ-γ coincidence counting; Activity standardisation; Liquid scintillation; Plastic scintillation; TDCR.