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arXiv · 1603.01544

Development of a low-level Ar-37 calibration standard

Abstract

Argon-37 is an environmental signature of an underground nuclear explosion. Producing and quantifying low-level Ar-37 standards is an important step in the development of sensitive field measurement instruments. This paper describes progress at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in developing a process to generate and quantify low-level Ar-37 standards, which can be used to calibrate sensitive field systems at activities consistent with soil background levels. This paper presents a discussion of the measurement analysis, along with assumptions and uncertainty estimates.

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R. M. Williams, C. E. Aalseth, T. W. Bowyer, A. R. Day, E. S. Fuller, D. A. Haas, J. C. Hayes, E. W. Hoppe, P. H. Humble, M. E. Keillor, B. D. LaFerriere, E. K. Mace, J. I. McIntyre, H. S. Miley, A. W. Myers, J. L. Orrell, C. T. Overman, M. E. Panisko, A. Seifert. 2016-03-04. Development of a low-level Ar-37 calibration standard. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.12.027

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