title: Measurement of the (211)Pb half-life using recoil atoms from (219)Rn decay.
abstract: The radioactive half-life of (211)Pb was measured, by α-particle counting of samples of radiochemically pure (211)Pb in equilibrium with its α-emitting progeny, (211)Bi and (211)Po. The samples were prepared by the collection of (215)Po recoil atoms from the decay of the (219)Rn decay progeny produced from a (223)Ra sample onto stainless steel discs. The radioactive decay of the (211)Pb was measured utilising a 2π proportional counter operating on the α plateau. A half-life of 36.164 (13)min was determined, which is in agreement with currently available literature. A full uncertainty budget is presented. A recommended half-life of T1/2((211)Pb)=36.161 (17)min has been evaluated from the current literature values.
authors.affiliation: National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, UK. Electronic address: paris.aitken-smith@npl.co.uk.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Aitken-Smith
authors.affiliation: National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, UK.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Collins
keywords: Half-life; Nuclear data; Pb-211; Proportional counter; Radioactivity