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Radiometric 14C Dating: New Background Analysis, Basis of Improved Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Pall Theodórsson
Pall Theodórsson*
Affiliation:
Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhaga 3, IS-107 Reykjavík, Iceland
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Abstract

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A recent broad study of the background of all types of low-level beta and gamma detectors has now made it possible to analyze its components more reliably and with greater detail. This general analysis is developed further here for gas proportional and liquid scintillation counters used in radiocarbon dating. The background of gas counters, which is dominated by secondary cosmic gamma radiation, is now well understood and can be described quantitatively. The background of liquid counters is less well understood and can only be described semiquantitatively, its analysis resting partly on estimates. Methods to reduce the background of both types of systems are described and their effectiveness discussed. This analysis may help in evaluating the quality of existing systems as well as in designing better ones.

Type
Part 1: Methods
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 40 , Issue 1: 16th International Radiocarbon Conference 16-20,1997 Groningen , 1997 , pp. 157 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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