Determination of the gamma emission probabilities of 239Np

Abstract

239Np is an important nuclide as the decay daughter of 239U and it decays to 239Pu by emitting beta particles and gamma rays with a half life of 2.356 days. The data of the emission probabilities of its gamma-rays in the open references are consistent except for the main gamma-ray of 106.1 keV, the emission probability of which varies from 25.9% to 27.2%. To verify the emission probability of 106.1 keV gamma-ray of 239Np, a N-type coaxial HPGe detector was calibrated using 241Am, 133Ba, 60Co, 152Eu and 155Eu reference gamma sources to get the accurate efficiency of the 106.1 keV gamma-ray. 239Np was purified from solution containing 243Am, where 239Np is the alpha decay daughter of 243Am. The specific activity of 239Np solution was determined by a 4πβ (PC)-γ coincidence counting device. There were 6 gamma sources prepared to measure with the HPGe detector, and the activity of 239Np in each gamma source was calculated with the weights of the solution contained in it. The emission probability of 106.1 keV of 239Np is measured to be (25.4 ± 0.3)%, which is consistent with 25.34%, the value evaluated in 2014.