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International Comparison of Proportional Gas Counters for 14C Activity Measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Willem G Mook*
Affiliation:
Isotope Physics Laboratory, University Groningen, Westersingel 34, 9718 CM Groningen, The Netherlands
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In early 1982 we attempted to compile information on 14C counting equipment from all laboratories listed in RADIOCARBON. A gratifying number of laboratories cooperated in communicating their data: more than 65% of those in which proportional counters are in operation. Our compilation covers more than 80% of all gas counters used for 14C dating. Unfortunately, the number of parameters determining counter quality as well as the spread in these factors is so large that their separate influence cannot be established beyond statistical doubt. Nevertheless qualitative and semi-quantitative trends are clearly observed. Laboratories are not identified in the data but the calculations and standardization procedures allow the laboratories to identify their own counter data in the graphs. Each plot does not contain a complete compilation of all counters. This is either because of lack of or internally inconsistent information.

Type
V. General Aspects of 14C Technique
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Grootes, PM, 1977, Thermal diffusion isotopic enrichment and radiocarbon dating beyond 50,000 years BP: Dissert, Univ Groningen.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Robinson, SW, and Yang, IC, 1979, 14C dating up to 60,000 years BP with high efficiency proportional counters, in : Berkeley, Univ California Press, p 202215.Google Scholar