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Development and Operation of the Harwell Small Counter Facility for the Measurement of 14C in Very Small Samples

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

R L Otlet
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics Division, AERE Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA United Kingdom
George Huxtable
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics Division, AERE Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA United Kingdom
G V Evans
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics Division, AERE Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA United Kingdom
D G Humphreys
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics Division, AERE Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA United Kingdom
T D Short
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics Division, AERE Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA United Kingdom
S J Conchie
Affiliation:
Nuclear Physics Division, AERE Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA United Kingdom
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Abstract

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The Harwell system for measuring milligram size samples using Brookhaven miniature gas counters is fully operative. It comprises 12 counters of different sizes which operate simultaneously within a single NaI crystal (300mm diameter × 300mm long) acting as an anti-coincidence guard counter. Brief details are given of the construction and commissioning of the system, including counter assembly, shield design, electronics, data capture, data analysis, and chemical processing and filling procedures. The performance of the system and an overall view of the fields of application for which the counters have important applications are discussed.

Type
V. General Aspects of 14C Technique
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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