Series 5E Console Based Automatic Low Background Alpha/Beta Counting System

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Features

• Automatic single detector counting system
• Enhanced low background capability
• Mini Gas Stat digital gas conservation and monitoring system
• Fifty planchet sample changer with 100 sample capacity optional
• Molded low background passive shielding with interlocking design
• Automatic full system calibration
• High performance 5.7 cm (2.25 in.) gas flow detector with ultra thin window 80 µg/cm ² ; one inch detector option
• Multiple data output modes
• Universal auto-sensing power supply
• Flash Card memory storage
• Stat Count for priority samples
• Optional gamma channel with NaI detector

Description

Superior Counting Performance in a Console Based System

The Series 5E is the only low background alpha/beta counter to offer a completely integrated console based operation for maximum flexibility. The Series 5E provides the same performance as the computer based Series 5 XLB but in an easier and simple-to-use interface.

The Series 5 platform is the next generation of automatic low background systems. The Series 5 is designed to count samples the way they are prepared in a laboratory. Sensible and smart, the Series 5 provides integrated intelligence to satisfy the most demanding applications and routine analyses.

Enhanced Low Background and Productivity - Simply the Best

Due to increasing environmental regulations to reach lower detection limits, sample count times have increased reducing the overall sample throughput in the laboratory. The Series 5 incorporates new technology to reduce system background and increase sample throughput. Using an improved guard detector, the system sensitivity for high energy, cosmic background is increased, enabling the anti-coincidence circuitry to detect and reject more spurious background events.

The beta background for the Series 5 has been reduced by as much as 35% over older systems. Beta backgrounds as low as 0.5 cpm can be achieved. This means that the Series 5 family of low background counters can count twice as many samples for a given detection limit as a counter with a beta background of 1.0 cpm. Impressive performance from an impressive system.

Custom Molded Shield

Using a graded shielding system, the Series 5 counts samples with better accuracy than any other low background counter.

The molded shield system provides 10 cm (4 in.) of custom molded lead surrounding the detector. The shield is comprised of interlocking modules which weigh no more than 27 kg (60 lb) each for safety and ease of assembly.

Time Proven Reliability

The sample changer of the Series 5 family is time and field proven. The highly reliable design of the automated sample changer transports and counts samples day after day providing worry free operation. When work counts and time is precious, count on a CANBERRA system to deliver results and reliability.

Ultra-Thin Detector Windows

The standard gas flow detector of the Series 5 family of systems incorporates a high performance pancake-style 5.7 cm (2.25 in.) dual anode detector. The entrance window of the detector is made with state-of-the-art technology and special materials to provide the highest counting efficiency and the lowest alpha background of any counter. Standard detector windows are 80 µg/cm ² with 500 µg/cm ² window as an option.

Circuitry So Advanced, It Thinks for Itself

To assure accurate results, the advanced electronics package of the Series 5 family of counting systems provides the most advanced control and monitoring system available. The Series 5 incorporates hardware diagnostics which continuously monitor internal and external parameters including gas pressure and flow, system voltage, power distribution, sample and guard counts, and other system critical parameters. The user is alerted on the front panel if any of these parameters fall below normal operation thresholds.

Mini Gas Stat Gas Conservation System

Conventional low background counters have manual gas flow control and use the equivalent of a 1A gas cylinder on the average of once per six weeks. Changing gas supplies usually means re-verification of critical system calibrations which can be an unnecessary time consuming process. Not only time, but the impact on data quality can become significant issues when frequent re-calibrations must be performed, due to a change in gas quality.

The Series 5E with Mini Gas Stat sets a new standard in the industry for eliminating the high frequency of re-calibrations due to counting gas changes.

The Series 5E incorporates a microprocessor controlled gas monitoring and control system that provides worry free operation. Mini Gas Stat eliminates the need to adjust manual flow meters and flow rates are digitally displayed in real time on screen. The user selects standby and purge times. Count and idle flow rates are factory set. The Series 5 hardware senses when the system is not counting samples, and automatically reduces the gas flow rate to a low quiescent flow to maintain detector gas quality. This prevents atmospheric impurities from diffusing into the detector and causing questionable results. When the user starts a count, Mini Gas Stat automatically purges the detector and resets the flow rate to normal. Mini Gas Stat uses a preset maximum flow rate for the detector purging; so, it is virtually impossible to cause window damage due to overpressurization.

Mini Gas Stat effectively increases the useful life of the gas supply, thereby reducing the frequency of instrument re-verification, saving time and improving the quality of counting data.

Stat Count

How many times have rush samples come into the laboratory only to interrupt the current samples counting? No electronic record is generated showing an auditor that a batch was interrupted. Using Stat Count, the user can now interrupt samples the automatic way. Just choose a group plate, load the samples, select Stat Count and walk away. When the rush samples are complete, the instrument will return to the interrupted sample and resume counting. The interruption is documented on the report with a date and time showing a routine group was interrupted.

Computer Connectivity with LB-Link

Using a specially designed PC application called LB-Link, procedures, reports, printer setup, source entry, security setup and much more can now be done in the convenience of your office through a computer. Using the Flash Card feature of the Series 5E, simply save the file structure of the counting unit to the Flash Card. Insert the Flash Card into a computer and launch LB-Link. The simple and easy-to-use interface will allow quick and easy setup of all parameters and editing if necessary. When complete, simply download the information from the Flash Card to one or multiple instruments, and you are up and running with your customized setup parameters.

Memory Management

The 5E has a memory management system that provides internal data storage of up to 250 sample counts. The memory status feature provides the operator with the ability to display available memory or clear for additional storage capacity. Sample data can be printed automatically or saved for printing at a later time. Sample data is retained until cleared, providing instant re-generation of the data report for post analysis printing. Using the Flash Card memory storage option all data can be saved to the Flash Card automatically or manually archived to the Flash Card when internal data storage is full.

Automatic Full System Calibration

The Series 5E uses a specially coded group plate that initiates the chosen level of calibration. Authorized users can program the system for unattended full calibration immediately or delayed to off hours. QA performance checks can also be run using the specially coded group plate.

Optional Gamma Channel

The Series 5E has an optional gross gamma channel with a NaI detector - providing 125 cpm backgrounds for an energy window of 0.2 to 2.0 MeV.

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