HPGe detector full-energy peak efficiency calculation for inhomogeneously activated samples

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - We present and evaluate a program for the semi-empirical calculation of the full-energy peak efficiency of a hyper-pure germanium detector, by...     

Methods for achieving ultra-low backgrounds in above-ground germanium detector systems

The authors have previously shown how to achieve a 40-fold reduction in system background for above-ground germanium detectors. Such systems are generally sufficient for examining small hydrogenous samples or samples of non-hydrogenous materials such as soil, glass, metals, etc. However, samples with a large hydrogen content yield a seriously degraded background due to a number of neutron-induced interactions, such as Compton scatter following hydrogen capture of thermalized neutrons. A study was performed to better understand the sources of thermal neutron flux in above-ground detector systems. The effects of different quantities of hydrogen in the sample were also examined. Methods are presented for additional lowering of system background for both hydrogenous and non-hydrogenous samples.     

A software package using a mesh-grid method for simulating HPGe detector efficiencies

Traditional ways of determining the absolute full-energy peak efficiencies of high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors are often time consuming, cost prohibitive, or not feasible. A software package, KMESS (Kevin’s Mesh Efficiency Simulator Software), was developed to assist in predicting these efficiencies. It uses a semi-empirical mesh-grid method and works for arbitrary source shapes and counting geometries. The model assumes that any gamma-ray source shape can be treated as a large enough collection of point sources. The code is readily adaptable, has a web-based graphical front-end, and could easily be coupled to a 3D scanner. As will be shown, this software can estimate absolute full-energy peak efficiencies with good accuracy in reasonable computation times. It has applications to the field of gamma-ray spectroscopy because it is a quick and accurate way to assist in performing quantitative analyses using HPGe detectors.     

Parametric normalization for full-energy peak count rates obtained at different geometries

The Effective Interaction Depth (EID) law has been systematically studied and applied to parametric normalization for peak count rates obtained at different source-detector distances (S-D). The errors caused by EID normalization are less than 4% over the full range of S-D (from to several mm) for true coincidence-free -rays. Parametric corrections for the true coincidence (summing) effect are also established, based on simplified decay schemes and P/T ratio determinations. The total response of Ge detector for single-energy -rays (T) is clearly defined with scattering contributions from surroundings included. Errors from summing effect corrections are also less than 4%. The combined EID normalization and summing effect corrections give an error no greater than 5.7% for the worst situations (several mm S-D and cascade-crossover decay scheme), acceptable for most practical K₀ NAA.     

An empirical expression for the full energy peak efficiency of an N-type high purity germanium detector

An empirical expression for the full energy peak efficiency (ε) in terms of the gamma-ray energy (E) and the vertical distance from the detector surface (z) (i.e.,ε=ε(z,E)) has been obtained for an N-type high purity germanium (HPGE) detector using an extended mixed standard radionuclide solution. Comparison of the calculated efficiencies and the experimentally measured values for the energy range of 59.5–1332.5 keV and a source-to-detector distance of 1.2–7.2 cm showed that the theoretical values agree with that of the experiment within 1.5–3.7% standard deviations. This shows a good agreement between the theory and the experiment.     

Interpolation and extrapolation of NaI detector efficiencies

The concept of representing a cylindrical detector volume as a virtual point detector in order to simplify the evaluation of the detector efficiency was proposed in the past for HPGe detectors in the case of measuring point sources. In the present work, the validity of the point detector model was studied and confirmed for the direct measurement of small volume sources, when using a common 7.5×7.5 cm² NaI(T1) detector.     

Characteristic absolute efficiency response curves of a high purity germanium detector in the energy range 50–1500 keV

The characteristic absolute efficiency response curves of a high purity germanium detector (HPGe) for different counting geometries have been established in the energy range 50–1500 keV by measuring the absolute efficiencies using both mono-energetic and multi-gamma emitting radionuclide point calibrated sources supplied by IAEA. Several fitting functions proposed in the literature were assessed for interpolation within the intermediate energy range of interest. The values of the function parameters have been determined by using the linear least square methods. The problems associated with the measurements of experimental efficiency data at small source–detector distances and the importance of the correlation matrix in the estimation of precise uncertainties have been shown. It was found that the inclusion of correlation matrices in the propagation of error formulae plays a significant role up to 450 keV gamma-ray energy and results in a drastic reduction of errors associated with the predicted efficiencies. The discrepancy at closer counting geometries in the absence of true gamma-gamma coincidence corrections is found to reach to about 30%.     

Gamma peak search and peak fitting algorithm for a low-resolution detector with applications in gamma spectroscopy

A Savitzky–Golay filtering for smoothing and peak search written in Python is presented in this paper alongside its applications in the list-mode digital data acquisition dual gamma–gamma coincidence bismuth germanate (BGO) detector. The study has demonstrated that the software provides a reliable and effective way to quantify trace amounts of ²²Na and ⁷Be in aerosol samples collected at Resolute Bay, Canada with a critical limit of 3 mBq and 5 Bq respectively for a 20 h counting interval, which are believed to be the inherent limitations of the dual-BGO system.

     

Anticosmic-shielded ultralow-background germanium detector systems for analysis of bulk environmental samples

A low-level gamma-ray counting system has been developed which reduces system background, relative to other typical low-background systems, by a factor of ten in the energy region below one MeV, and by as much as a factor of forty at higher energies. This germanium-diode gamma-ray spectrometer was constructed for a modest investment above that required for a conventional germanium detector. The techniques involved use: (1) materials of known radiopurity to surround the diode, (2) an active external anticosmic shield to reduce the background continuum due to interactions of cosmic particles with the detector and passive lead shielding, and (3) nitrogen exhausted from the cryogenic dewar to minimize the introduction of ubiquitous radon decay nuclei into the sample counting chamber. A novel method for handling samples prior to counting is presented. Also; some of the difficulties encountered in calibrating a system intended for bulk samples are discussed.Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Battelle Memorial Institute under Contract DE-AC06-76RLO 1830.     

A method for assessing and correcting coincidence summing effects for germanium detector efficiency calibrations

The addition of⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁵Zn to a nine-radionuclide standard (containing²⁴¹Am.,¹⁰⁹Cd.⁵⁷Co,¹³⁹Ce,²⁰³Hg.¹¹³Sn,¹³⁷Cs,⁸⁸Y, and⁶⁰Co) provides the capability to determine the extent of coincidence summing for gamma rays from⁸⁸Y and⁶⁰Co. A method for correcting the efficiency points at 1332 keV (⁶⁰Co) and 1836 keV (⁸⁸Y) for coincidence summing is presented.     

Monte-Carlo based background reduction and shielding optimisation for a large hyper-pure germanium detector

The performance of a radiation shielding system for a hyper-pure germanium detector has been characterised for Terrestrial radiation sources, Cosmic muons, X-ray fluorescence and the Compton scattering of source photons. Several methods to reduce the background seen are quantified, including increasing the inner radius of the Pb cave, and increasing the thickness of the shielding. Substantial improvements in the reduction of fluorescence X-rays are found to be achievable by modifying the liner thicknesses used. Increasing the Sn liner from 1.5 to 2.5 mm will increase the shielding of Pb X-rays from 95 to 99.5 %. Reducing the Cu liner from 1.0 to 0.5 mm maintains a 99.5 % level of shielding for Sn/Cd X-rays, however it greatly reduces the amount of Compton scattering of source photons into the detector (a process that is shown to cause an order of magnitude more events in the background than X-ray fluorescence). Cosmic muons were found to increase the amount of background radiation seen, both through direct interaction and the production of secondary radiation. The Cosmic muon contribution, however, was found to produce a much smaller effect than that caused by Terrestrial radiation and Compton scattered photons/fluorescence from the source. The total level of background radiation entering the detector chamber was found to decrease up to the full 200 mm of Pb shielding simulated.     

Contribution of pair production process in full-energy peak efficiency calculation of semiconductor detectors for axial point sources with high-energy γ-rays

Study has been made of the contribution of the pair production process in calculation of detector efficiency. Particular attention has been paid to positron annihilation in flight and subsequent scattering of the annihilation quanta in the detector material. A mathematical formula has been derived to directly calculate the liner attenuation coefficient of the full-energy peak (μ_p) for a Ge (Li) detector using an axial point source. The calculated values of the photopeak efficiency are found to be in a good agreement with published experimental data.     

An alternative approach for predicting peak width in gas chromatography

Summary The linear relationship between natural logarithm of width factor (lnp′)and natural logarithm of retention factor (lnk) is demonstrated. This relationship is then used to establish the relationship between (lnp′), absolute temperature (T), and carbon number (z), as follows: Inp′=A+bz+c/T+dz/T where A, b, c and d are thermodynamically related constants. The above equation is used to predict the unadjusted widths (w _R ) ofn-alkanes, fatty alcohols and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) at various temperatures, predicted values are in good agreement with experimental values. The above equation can be used to predict the width of FAMEs from rice bran oil. The largest difference between the experimental and predicted values is 0.66 s or 6.32%.     

A computer program for calculating Ge(Li) detector counting efficiencies for Marinelli beakers

A novel computing method has been developed to calculate the absolute photopeak efficiency of a Ge(Li) detector for Marinelli beakers of different heights and diameters and with variable density. For each point in the cylindrical sample the detection efficiency is calculated taking into account the distance from the detector and gamma-ray attenuation and the efficiency is integrated numerically over the volume of the sample. The detector is approximated as a point detector with an experimentally determined effective interaction depth. It is necessary to measure the absolute efficiency for a point source located on the detector axis and on a line beside the detector parallel to the axis. The computer program calculates the absolute counting efficiency for Marinelli beakers of any geometry and for any density. The measured and calculated values for three different densities give a good (–2.2%) overall agreement.     

Efficiency for close geometries and extended sources of a p-type germanium detector with low-energy sensitivity

Typically, germanium detectors designed to have good sensitivity to low-energy photons and good efficiency at high energies are constructed from n-type crystals with a boron-implanted outer contact. These detectors usually exhibit inferior resolution and peak shape compared to ones made from p-type crystals. To overcome the resolution and peak-shape deficiencies, a new method of construction of a germanium detector element was developed. This has resulted in a gamma-ray detector with high sensitivity to photon energies from 14 keV to 2 MeV, while maintaining good resolution and peak shape over this energy range. Efficiency measurements, done according to the draft IEEE 325-2004 standard, show efficiencies typical of a GMX or n-type detector at low energies. The detectors are of large diameter suitable for counting extended samples such as filter papers. The Gaussian peak shape and good resolution typical of a GEM or p-type are maintained for the high count rates and peak separation needed for activation analysis.     

Full energy peak efficiency calibration of HPGe detector for point and extended sources using Monte Carlo code

Monte Carlo simulation is important to get efficiencies for cases where the experimental efficiencies are difficult to get such as for samples with nonstandard geometries and for large samples. In this paper, efficiency of the HPGe detector, routinely used in our lab for a variety of samples, has been computed for point source geometry and its parameters has been optimized to match MCNP and experimental efficiencies within 5% at different sample to detector distances. This optimized geometry was then validated by efficiency transfer to other geometries.     

Calculation of the absolute peak efficiency of Ge and Ge(Li) detectors for different counting geometries

A new method is presented to calculate with improved accuracy the absolute peak efficiency of cylindrical Ge and Ge(Li) detectors for point, disk and cylinder sources, positioned at any source-detector distance. Moreover attention was paid to true-coincidence effects. The method is extensively tested and applied for the analysis of reference materials. The accuracy turned out to be 3% or better. Research associate of the “Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek”.     

Optimisation design of cylindrical containers for improving the detection efficiency of a high-purity germanium detector using the LabSOCS

The LabSOCS software was used to optimise the geometric dimensions of cylindrical containers and improve the detection efficiency of a high-purity germanium detector for the measurement of environmental radioactivity samples. The optimum ratio of diameter and height for different sample volumes were determined. In addition, the degrees of influence of the sample volume and density when the amount of sample was fixed were compared. Results show that the effect of sample volume on detection efficiency was significantly greater than that of sample density for a given sample amount.     

SLIPPER-2001 -- software for predicting molecular properties on the basis of physicochemical descriptors and structural similarity

A new approach for predicting the lipophilicity (log P), solubility (log Sw), and oral absorption of drugs in humans (FA) is described. It is based on structural and physicochemical similarity and is realized in the software program SLIPPER-2001. Calculated and experimental values of log P, log Sw, and FA for 42 drugs were used to demonstrate the predictive power of the program. Reliable results were obtained for simple compounds, for complex chemicals, and for drugs. Thus, the principle of "similar compounds display similar properties" together with estimating incremental changes in properties by using differences in physicochemical parameters results in "structure - property " predictive models even in the absence of a precise understanding of the mechanisms involved.