TDCRPy: A python package for TDCR measurements

Abstract

The TDCR (Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio) measurement technique is a primary standardization method used by metrology laboratories to accurately determine the activity of radioactive solutions, particularly for radionuclides unsuitable for traditional coincidence counting methods, such as pure beta emitters. The TDCR method leverages a liquid scintillation counter equipped with three photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). This paper introduces TDCRPy, a novel Python package developed by the BIPM, designed to calculate detection efficiency of liquid scintillation counters using Monte Carlo simulations and decay data evaluations from the Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP). The software simulates particle interactions within the liquid scintillation counter, utilizing pre-calculated probability distributions for energy deposition. Comparisons with the PENNUC/NUR code and tests with measurement from the BIPM.RI(II)-K1.Co-60 key comparison demonstrate the potential of TDCRPy. This open-source package is distributed at https://pypi.org/project/TDCRPy and available for collaborative development on GitHub https://github.com/RomainCoulon/TDCRPy, where detailed user documentation can be found.