title: Extension of the TDCR model to compute counting efficiencies for radionuclides with complex decay schemes.
abstract: The triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) method is frequently used to measure the activity of radionuclides decaying by pure β emission or electron capture (EC). Some radionuclides with more complex decays have also been studied, but accurate calculations of decay branches which are accompanied by many coincident γ transitions have not yet been investigated. This paper describes recent extensions of the model to make efficiency computations for more complex decay schemes possible. In particular, the MICELLE2 program that applies a stochastic approach of the free parameter model was extended. With an improved code, efficiencies for β(-), β(+) and EC branches with up to seven coincident γ transitions can be calculated. Moreover, a new parametrization for the computation of electron stopping powers has been implemented to compute the ionization quenching function of 10 commercial scintillation cocktails. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the TDCR method, the following radionuclides are discussed: (166m)Ho (complex β(-)/γ), (59)Fe (complex β(-)/γ), (64)Cu (β(-), β(+), EC and EC/γ) and (229)Th in equilibrium with its progenies (decay chain with many α, β and complex β(-)/γ transitions).
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: Karsten.Kossert@ptb.de.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kossert
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel, CEA-LNHB, CE-Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cassette
authors.affiliation: C/Voluntarios Catalanes, 62, 28039 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A Grau
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Carles
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; Radiochemie München (RCM), Technische Universität München, Walther-Meißner-Str. 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jörg
authors.affiliation: Radiochemie München (RCM), Technische Universität München, Walther-Meißner-Str. 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Christroph Lierse V
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gostomski
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nähle
authors.affiliation: Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Akademie (NTA), Seidenstr. 12-35, D-88316 Isny, Germany.
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Wolf
keywords: Activity standardization; Free parameter model; Ionization quenching; Radionuclides with complex decay scheme; TDCR