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Dublin Radiocarbon Dates II

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

P Q Dresser
Affiliation:
Physical Laboratory, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
I R Mcaulay
Affiliation:
Physical Laboratory, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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The Dublin radiocarbon dating laboratory was operational in 1958 to 1960 and the scintillation counter system used at that time has previously been described (Delaney and McAulay, 1959). The system is now operational again and has been modified to date samples after conversion to benzene. The electronic equipment differs from that previously used only insofar as more compact and drift-free transistorized units are now employed. With these modifications, considerable improvements in sensitivity and accuracy are obtained. 5ml benzene, diluted with a commercial toluene based scintillant is used in a 12.5ml silica cell for the detection of 14C disintegrations. The background count-rate varies inversely with the barometric pressure (ca 2.6% cm–1Hg). The background is ca 3.4cpm, and the detection efficiency is ca 60% and excludes the tritium spectrum.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

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