Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-20T03:03:13.975Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Development of Practical Systems for 14C Measurement in Small Samples Using Miniature Counters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

R L Otlet ,
George Huxtable  and
D C W Sanderson
R L Otlet
Affiliation:
Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, UK
George Huxtable
Affiliation:
Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, UK
D C W Sanderson
Affiliation:
Paisley College of Technology, Paisley, Scotland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Miniature gas counters have been in use since the early 1960s for the measurement of 14C but were for a long time seen as suitable for providing approximate indications of activity rather than measurements for more precise dates. In recent years the need for better measurements of small samples has posed a continuing challenge for the 14C laboratories. This paper examines how the challenge has been met across the world using conventional beta decay counting techniques and proportional gas counters of 50ml volume or less. A survey is made of the rise of these techniques and attention paid to the solution through modern technology of earlier problems. Some practical systems, now in routine use, are described and consideration is given to the future for miniature counter measurements. Such systems have several attractive features that will guarantee their usefulness in 14C measurements for the future.

Type
V. Conventional Techniques
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 28 , Issue 2A , 1986 , pp. 603 - 614
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Alexeev, V A and Ivliev, A I, 1981, Proportional counters for measurement of small quantities of radiocarbon, and applications, in Internatl symposium on C-14 and archaeology, 1st, Abs: Groningen, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Currie, L A, Gerlach, R W, Klouda, G A, Ruegg, F C and Tompkins, G B, 1983, Miniature signals and miniature counters: accuracy assurance via microprocessors and multiparameter control techniques, in Stuiver, M, and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25, no. 2, p 553–564.Google Scholar
Currie, L A, Noakes, J E and Breiter, D N, 1978, Measurement of small radiocarbon samples: power of alternative methods for tracing atmospheric hydrocarbons, in Berger, R and Suess, H E, eds, Radiocarbon dating, Internatl C conf, 9th, Proc: Berkeley, Univ California Press, p 158–175.Google Scholar
Geyh, M A, 1967, Experience gathered in the construction of low-level counters, in Radioactive dating and methods of low-level counting, Internatl symposium, Proc: Vienna, IAEA, p 575–591.Google Scholar
Harbottle, G, Sayre, E V and Stoenner, R W, 1979, Carbon-14 dating of small samples by proportional counting: Science, v 206, p 683–685.Google Scholar
Hut, G, Keyser, J and Wijma, S, 1983, A multiple proportional 14C counter system for milligram-sized samples, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25, no. 2, p 547–552.Google Scholar
Jelen, K and Geyh, M A, 1986, A low cost miniature counter system for radiocarbon dating, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 12th, Proc: Radiocarbon, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaihola, L, Kojola, H, Polach, H A, Soini, E and Otlet, R L, 1983, An evaluation of shielding characteristics applicable to mini-gas proportional-counter-based 14C dating systems, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25, no. 2, p 577–580.Google Scholar
Kaihola, L, Polach, H, Kojola, H, Tervahauta, J, Mantynen, P and Soini, E, 1984, Low level gas multicounter for 14C dating of small samples: Nuclear Instruments & Methods, v B5, p 436–438.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karlen, I, Olsson, I U, Kallberg, P and Kilicci, S, 1966, Absolute determination of the activity of two 14C dating standards: Arkiv Geofysik, v 6, p 465–471.Google Scholar
Kohman, T P and Goel, P S, 1963, Terrestrial ages of meteorites from cosmogenic 14C, in Radioactive dating, Internatl symposium, Proc: Vienna, IAEA, p 395–412.Google Scholar
Loosli, H H, Forster, M and Otlet, R L, 1986, Background measurements with different shielding and anticoincidence systems, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, International 14C conf, 12th, Proc: Radiocarbon, this issue.Google Scholar
Oeschger, H, 1963, Low-level counting methods, in Radioactive dating, Internatl symposium, Proc: Vienna, IAEA, p 13–34.Google Scholar
Oeschger, H, Alder, B, Loosli, H, Langway, C C Jr and Renaud, A, 1966, 14C dating of ice: Earth Planetary Sci Letters, v 1, p 49–54.Google Scholar
Oeschger, H and Loosli, H H, 1975, New developments in sampling and low level counting of natural radioactivity, in Internatl conf on low radioactivities measurements and applications: Comenius Univ, Dept Nuclear Physics, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, 6th–10th October 1975, Abs, p 2.Google Scholar
Otlet, R L and Evans, G V, 1983, Progress in the application of miniature gas counters to radiocarbon dating of small samples, in Mook, W G and Waterbolk, H T, eds, 14C and archaeology, Internatl symposium, 1st, Proc: PACT 8, p 91–106.Google Scholar
Otlet, R L, Huxtable, G, Evans, G V, Humphreys, D G, Short, T D and Conchie, S J, 1983, Development and operation of the Harwell small counter facility for the measurement of 14C in very small samples, in Stuiver, M, and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25, no. 2, p 565–575.Google Scholar
Otlet, R L, Sanderson, D C W and Walker, A J, in press, Comments on miniature gas counter dating techniques based on two years of operating experience, in Internatl archaeometry conf, 24th, Proc: Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Schoch, H, Bruns, M, Munnich, K O and Munnich, M, 1980, A multi-counter system for high precision carbon-14 measurements, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 22, no. 2, p 442–447.Google Scholar
Sheppard, J C, Hopper, J F and Welter, Y, 1983, Radiocarbon dating archaeologic and environmental samples containing 10 to 120 milligrams of carbon, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25, no. 2, p 493–500.Google Scholar
Srdoc, D, Obelic, B and Horvatincic, N, 1983, Radiocarbon dating of millimole-sized gaseous samples, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25, no. 2, p 485–492.Google Scholar
Stoenner, R W, Schaeffer, O A and Davis, R J, 1960, Meteorites as space probes for testing the spatial constancy of cosmic radiation: Jour Geophys Research, v 65, p 3025–3034.Google Scholar
Tykva, R, 1967, Discussion, in Geyh, M A, Experience gathered in the construction of low-level counters, in Radioactive dating and methods of low-level counting, Internatl symposium, Proc: Vienna, IAEA, p 589–590.Google Scholar