Improved methods of measurement and analysis of conversion electron and β-particle spectra

Abstract A general statistical test of the stability of measurement conditions was demonstrated on the β-spectra of 241 Pu cumulated during four years. The α- and γ-ray spectroscopy indicated stability of the 241 Pu source. Monte Carlo modelling of individual collision events clarified the role of electron scattering and energy losses within a radioactive source down to energies of several hundreds of eV. The impact ionization by β-particles of carbon and oxygen atoms in a surface contamination layer on the 241 Pu and 63 Ni sources was observed.