Natural Alpha Radioactivity in Medium-Heavy Elements

Abstract

A large cylindrical ionization counter accommodating samples up to 1200 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ in area has been used for measurements of natural alpha radioactivity in medium-heavy elements. Low-background techniques and multichannel pulse analysis are employed. The method has greater energy resolution and yields better counting statistics than the nuclear emulsion technique, but does not have as great a sensitivity.The results obtained from measurements on natural elements and isotopically enriched samples are: