Standardisation of 54Mn and 65Zn using a software coincidence counting system

The activities of 54Mn and 65Zn have been determined by 4π(PC)-γ coincidence counting, with efficiency variation performed by the conventional method of altering the self-absorption in the sources as well as by the computer discrimination method. The standardisation of 65Zn presents some complications requiring optimisation of the γ-ray energy window settings to achieve a linear efficiency–extrapolation curve. Determination of these optimal settings by the conventional coincidence method is a tedious task. These difficulties have been reduced by the utilisation of a software coincidence counting system that records time and amplitude information of individual pulses from coincidence measurements, where the coincidence parameters are set after the data collection process has completed, facilitating multiple data evaluations on a single data set. The optimal γ-ray energy window settings for the 65Zn standardisation were derived from the results of the 54Mn standardisation, as well as from studies of the 65Zn data itself. The setting of the PC channel thresholds for K and both (K+L) electrons is also discussed. The results are compared with those attained using conventional coincidence counting.