Activity standardization of 3H with the new TDCR system at PTB.

A triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) liquid scintillation counting system (Pochwalski et al., 1988; Grau Malonda and Coursey, 1988) was set up at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) to be used as an additional technique for primary activity standardization. The optical chamber of the system was designed in our laboratory, expending great effort to achieve maximum light transmission to the photomultiplier tubes (PMT) and, consequently, a maximum counting efficiency and low uncertainties. A programme to compute the counting efficiencies and to analyse the measurement data was developed and tested. The software can also be used to allow for PMT asymmetries. The system and recently developed analysis procedures were used for the activity standardization of a tritiated water solution within the scope of an international comparison under the auspices of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.