A Liquid beta scintillation counter
Liquid scintillation counting is a standard laboratory method for measuring radiation from beta-emitting nuclides. Briefly, samples are dissolved or suspended in a "cocktail" containing an aromatic solvent and small amounts of other additives known as fluors. Beta particles emitted from the sample transfer energy to the solvent molecules, which in turn transfer their energy to the fluors; the excited fluor molecules dissipate the energy by emitting light. In this way, each beta emission results in the emission of light which is detected by a photomultiplier tube. The samples are placed in small transparent or translucent (often glass or plastic) vials that are loaded into an instrument known as a liquid scintillation counter.
Liquid beta scintillation counter
