Kr-81m calibration factor for the npl ionisation chamber

A general method has been developed for the measurement of the activity concentration of 81mKr gas. Due to its short half-life, 13.1 s, this gas has to be eluted from a 81Rb/81mKr generator. The 81Rb parent has a half-life of about 4.6 h. The calibration was done in two steps: firstly, a γ-ray spectrometer was calibrated using 51Cr and 139Ce sources, nuclides with γ-ray energies bracketing that of 81mKr (190.5 keV). The measurement geometry was equivalent to that of the 81mKr measurement; the sources were inserted into two collimated PTFE tubes in front of the γ-ray detector. Secondly, a calibration factor for the NPL radionuclide calibrator was determined with a specially designed ionisation chamber insert. The 81mKr gas passed in front of the γ-ray detector in PTFE tubing before and after entering the ionisation chamber. The calibration factor for 81mKr in the radionuclide calibrator with this geometry was independent of the gas flow rate within determined limits. The analytical calculations of the activity determination, uncertainties and measurement criteria are discussed.