Fe55 source

[Marco75]

Hi all,
I am going to import a Fe55 (5.9kev) source from Spectrum Techniques to test and calibrate my x-rays probe.
I can buy 10uCi and 25uCi mostly at same price, just 50 usd difference.
Is there a unknown to me reason why I should avoid a source with more power considering also that 1/2T is 3,7 years? i would go on the 25uCi unless someone will tell me that a lower activity is better.
I also wonder that 25uCi is 925,000 Bq this means we go far above the 2000cps max of Gs-PRO-USB and probably higher even for the GS-MAX-8000

i have no experience with xray sources but i think you cannot place away from the detector to reduce the cps because at 6kev the estintion caused by air will be significative

any suggestion/feedbacks ?

Marco

[Sesselmann]

Marco,

I don't have any direct experience, but your reasoning is sound. I suggest buying the source that meets the objective of your experiment.

Steven

[Marco75]

thanks Steven,
i have ordered the 10uCi which is the minimum activity. I think this will be more than sufficient to make the calibration and test the xrays probe.