Quench determination in liquid scintillation counting systems

A method of measuring the degree of quench associated with a sample in a liquid scintillation medium comprising the steps of:

• exposing the sample to radiation from a standard source for interaction therewith to produce Compton scattering of electrons having a Compton scattered electron energy distribution or pulse height spectrum extending along a pulse height axis, the pulse height spectrum being defined at a high energy end thereof by a Compton edge configuration;
• analyzing the shape of the Compton edge to identify a unique point on the edge and measuring the pulse height value corresponding thereto;
• and
• comparing the pulse height value measured for the sample with the pulse height value measured in a like manner for a calibration standard, the difference in the measured pulse height values being indicative of the degree of quench present in the sample.

Apparatus for measuring the degree of quench associated with a sample in a liquid scintillation medium comprising:

• means for exposing the sample to radiation from a standard source for interaction therewith to produce Compton scattering of electrons having a Compton scattered electron energy distribution or pulse height spectrum, the pulse height spectrum being defined at a high energy end thereof by a Compton edge configurtion;
• means for analyzing the shape of the Compton edge to identify a unique characteristic of the Compton edge and for measuring a pulse height value corresponding thereto;
• and
• means for comparing the pulse height value measured for the sample with a pulse height value measured in a like manner for a calibration standard, the difference in the measured pulse height values being indicative of the degree of quench present in the sample.

Apparatus for measuring the degree of quench associated with a sample in a liquid scintillation medium comprising:

• means for exposing the sample to radiation from a standard source for interaction therewith to produce Compton scattering of electrons having a Compton scattered electron energy distribution or pulse height spectrum, the pulse height spectrum being defined at a high energy end thereof by a Compton edge configuration;
• means for analyzing the shape of the Compton edge to identify a unique point on the edge and for measuring the pulse height value corresponding thereto;
• and
• means for comparing the pulse height value measured for the sample with a pulse height value measured in a like manner for a calibration standard, the difference in the measured pulse height values being indicative of the degree of quench present in the sample.