Radioactivity measurements of 192Ir wire sources with a microcalorimeter

Radioactivities of metallic 192Ir sources are measured with a microcalorimeter nondestructively. In order to convert the complete decay energy evolved from the source into thermal energy, a tungsten block is used as radiation absorber. The sample sources measured are four thin wires of Ir/Pt alloy with dimensions of 0.1 mmφ x 10 mm1, each coated by 0.1 mm thick platinum, giving the final diameter of 0.3 mmφ. Overall uncertainty of the measurement for some 60 MBq activity is ±3.2%. Measurements of the wire sources with an ionisation chamber give smaller activities which are smaller by 10% than those from microcalorimetry mainly because of the autoattenuation effect. (orig.)