title: High-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry of ²³⁸U.
abstract: The alpha-particle emission probabilities associated with the three main alpha transitions of (238)U were measured by high-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry. Highly enriched (238)U material was used and its isotopic composition characterised by mass spectrometry. Source production through electrodeposition was optimised to reconcile conflicting demands for good spectral resolution and statistical precision. Measurements were performed at IRMM and CIEMAT for 1-2 years in three different set-ups. A new magnet system was put into use to largely eliminate true coincidence effects with low-energy conversion electrons. Finally the accuracy and precision of the relative emission probabilities for the three transitions - 77.01 (10)%, 22.92 (10)% and 0.068 (10)%, respectively - have been improved significantly.
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium. Electronic address: stefaan.pomme@ec.europa.eu.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pommé
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Metrología de Radiaciones Ionizantes, CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Toraño
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marouli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Metrología de Radiaciones Ionizantes, CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jobbágy
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Ammel
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paepen
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stroh
keywords: (238)U; Alpha-particle emission probabilities; Alpha-particle spectrometry; Decay data; Metrology