International decay data evaluation project

Basic concepts of, and information from, radionuclide decay are used in man y applications. Many of these applications require a knowledge of half-live s and radiation energies and emission probabilities. For over 50 years, peo ple have compiled and evaluated measured data and combined these with theor etical results with the goal of obtaining the best values of these quantiti es. This has resulted in numerous sets of recommended values, many of which still have scientific, historical, or national reasons for existing. These sets show varying degrees of agreement and disagreement in the quoted valu es and varying lime lags in incorporating new and improved experimental res ults. A new international group made up of six evaluators from four countri es was formed in 1995 to carry out evaluations for radionuclides of importa nce in applications; it is expected that the results will become an authori tative and widely accepted set of decay data. This Decay Data Evaluation Pr oject has selected nuclides to be evaluated, the methodology to be used, an d a review and approval process. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.