Giblin, S P; Lorusso, G (2026) Precision measurement of ionization current from a long half-life radioactive source. Review of Scientific Instruments, 97 (6). 063302 ISSN 0034-6748

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Abstract

We present precision measurements of the ionization current produced by a sample of carbon-14. Using specialized ammeters with a gain uncertainty of less than a part per million (ppm), the decay of the ∼400 pA ionization current, ∼1 fA/week, is resolved by the measurement system for experimental runs of 50 days. When the apparatus is temperature controlled to ±0.05 °C, fluctuations in instrumental offsets are suppressed, and the random uncertainty is limited by Poisson noise, reaching ∼2.5 ppm of the ionization current for 24 h of data integration. We discuss the possibility of a measurement of the carbon-14 half-life by directly observing the decay in the ionization current.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Ionising Radiation > Radioactivity
Divisions:	Quantum Technologies
Identification number/DOI:	10.1063/5.0328925
Last Modified:	15 Oct 2026 14:47
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/10565