Comparison of the Radiocarbon dating methods used in the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory

In the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory the technique of gas proportional counters (GPC) filled with CO ₂ has been used since the beginning of 70ties. In 1994 the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory started the operation of a liquid scintillation spectrometry system (LSC technique) which consists of a Quantulus 1220 spectrometer and two vacuum rigs for benzene production. The work on the calibration of the Quantulus 1220 for the purpose of radiocarbon dating in three different counting geometries was undertaken. This paper presents characteristic parameters (background and standard counting rates) of facilites working on the basis of the methods above (GPC and LSC), and a comparison of results of radiocarbon dating obtained using other GPC and LSC facilities. Assessment of the analytical accuracy and precision achieved in routine liquid scintillation counting was based on the results of ¹⁴ C measurements for TIRI intercalibration samples (and other samples), and on the comparison with the results obtained with the well established gas proportional counting method performed in the Gliwice Laboratory.