Model and simulation of quenching effects on the shape of a tritium β- in a liquid scintillation counting

This paper presents a method to evaluate the spectrum shape modifications for beta(-) tritium measured in liquid scintillation counting system with two photomultipliers working in coincidence mode. In this study, we have taken into account the detection geometry system and the chemical quenching effects using the Stern-Volmer equations. The code that has been developed is based on the detection probability versus the solid angle detection and the emission rate of scintillant organic compounds using fluorescence equations. The use of a Monte Carlo simulation method has allowed for a statistical simulation of the system to be performed. Finally, the theoretical results computed were compared with experimental data obtained with H-3 standards quenched by CCl4 using a liquid scintillation counter. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.