Determination of (93)Zr decay scheme and half-life.
This study describes a new determination of the decay scheme and half-life of (93)Zr. A pure (93)Zr solution was obtained after chemical separation from the dissolution of an irradiated zircaloy sample. The concentration of (93)Zr in the solution was measured by mass spectrometry, with an isotopic dilution technique. The activity of the solution was measured by liquid scintillation counting, using an efficiency tracing method. The measurement of the activity concentration of (93)Nb(m) by X-ray spectrometry, allowed the determination of the (93)Zr decay scheme and the calculation of the (93)Zr detection efficiency. This leads to the calculation of the decay probability of (93)Zr toward (93)Nb(m) of (0.73+/-0.06) and to a half-life of (93)Zr of (1.64+/-0.06)x10(6) years. These values are discussed in comparison with the evaluated values available in the literature.
Cassette
P
P
CEA, LIST, Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (LNE-LNHB), F-91191 Gif sur Yvette, France. philippe.cassette@cea.fr
Chartier
F
F
Isnard
H
H
Fréchou
C
C
Laszak
I
I
Degros
J P
JP
Bé
M M
MM
Lépy
M C
MC
Tartes
I
I