Characterization of radionuclide generators: decision aid for the application.

In medicine, among other things, radionuclides with short half-lives (from a few minutes to a few days) are used in the field of diagnostics. Due to their short half-life, radionuclide generators are used for this purpose, in which the longer-lived parent nuclide breaks down into the short-lived daughter isotope, which is required for medical use. These generators are often transported and stored and used in clinics. These generators could potentially be stolen by possible perpetrators during transport or in facilities with low security measures, which has already happened.

The aim of the project is to create an overview of all radionuclide generators on the market from the various manufacturers based on images, crack drawings, description of the radiation field and X-rays (to identify the internal structure, as an aid for the defuser). In addition, these generators are to be examined gamma spectrometrically with an HPGe detector in order to document the shielding effect on the gamma spectra of the nuclides in the generators, so that the gamma spectrometry experts at the BfS can give an indication of the shape of these spectra (shielded by the generator materials) receive the contained radionuclides.

The gamma spectra are to be evaluated using the Genie 2000 and ISOCS program systems, which are used to modulate the geometry and internal structure of the generators in order to be able to calculate the current activities of the radionuclides in the generators at the time of the measurements. These are to be compared with the actual activities.

The results of this project are intended to enable the client and the responsible state and federal authorities to optimize the assessment of the risk situation and the subsequent selection of suitable protective measures both for the population and for the emergency services.