Determination of Ba-137m Half-Life Using Logarithmic Decay Analysis

Abstract

The precise determination of radioactive half-life is essential for nuclear physics, radiation safety, and medical applications. This study focuses on measuring the half-life of Barium-137m (Ba-137m) using a Geiger-Müller counter and employing logarithmic decay analysis to enhance accuracy. A systematic approach was applied to correct for equilibrium activity contributions, addressing a key limitation in previous studies. The experiment involved monitoring the counting rate of Ba-137m over time, followed by logarithmic transformation and regression analysis to extract the decay constant. The measured half-life was found to be 142.33 seconds, closely aligning with theoretical expectations and previous experimental values. The results demonstrated a clear exponential decay trend, with minor statistical fluctuations observed at lower activity levels. By subtracting the equilibrium activity and applying a refined regression model, the accuracy of the measurement was improved. The findings confirm that logarithmic data processing provides a reliable method for reducing systematic errors in half-life determination. This study contributes to the optimization of experimental techniques in nuclear decay analysis, offering a refined approach that enhances precision in half-life measurements. Future research could explore higher-resolution detection methods and extended measurement intervals to further minimize uncertainties and validate the proposed methodology in different experimental settings.