Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Monte Carlo Determination of Full Energy Peak Efficiency for HPGe Detector and Self-Absorption Correction of Environmental Samples

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

M.R Abdi
M Mostajaboddavati
H Faghihian
Abstract
The Monte Carlo method was used to determine full energy efficiency of a high-purity germanium (HPGe) coaxial detector within an energy range of 53.2-2614 keV. Also, measurement was carried out for a standard Marinelli beaker of 600cm3, which was placed into the reference material of mixed gamma. The plot of the experimentally derived efficiency versus the incident gamma radiation energy showed variations at certain energies which is attributed to the detector’s characteristics. The results obtained by the Monte Carlo method and those of the experimental measurements resulted in a standard deviation of 2.3 to 7%. The method was also applied to determine self-absorption correction of the environmental radioactive materials which gave rise to a deviation of 3–12%.

Highlights

  1. 1.      K. Debertin, B. Grosswendt, “Efficiency calibration of semi conductor detectors by primary standard sources and Monte Carlo calculations,” Nucl. Inst. Methods 203, 343 (1982).

 

  1. 2.      F. Sanchez, “A Monte Carlo based method of including gamma self–absorption for environmental samples,” Nucl. Inst. Methods B61, 535 (1991).

 

  1. 3.      M. Decombaz, J.J. Gostely, “Coincidence–summing correction for extended sources in gamma–ray spectrometry using Monte Carlo simulation,” Nucl. Inst. Methods A 312, 152 (1992).

 

  1. 4.      M.W. Overwater, P. Bode, “Gamma–ray spectroscopy of voluminous sources: corrections for source geometry and self–attenuation,” Nucl. Inst. Methods A 324, 209 (1993).

 

 

 

 
 

53
 

 

 


  1. 5.      B. Quincddence, “Summing corrections in gamma spectrometry,” Appl. Radiat. Isot. 46, 961 (1995).

 

  1. 6.      M. Mosstajaboddavati, M.R. Abdi, H. Faghihian, “Efficiency calibration and measurement of self–absorption corrosion for environmental gamma spectroscopy of sample using Marinelli beaker,” Radio. Anal. Nucl. Vol. 268, No. 3, 539 (2006).

 

  1. 7.      J.F. Briesmeister, “MCNP-a general Monte Carlo N-Particle transport code,” Version 4B, LA-126625-M, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, March (1997).

 

  1. 8.      J. Rodenas, J. Ortiz, I. Ballesteros, V. Serradell, “Analysis of the simulation of Ge-detector calibration for environmental radioactive samples in a Marinelli beaker source using the Monte Carlo Method, Proceedings of the International conference on Advanced Monte Carlo for Radiation Physics,” Lisbon, Portugal, 23-26 October (MC 2000).

Keywords

Monte Carlo Method
Self-Absorption
High Purity Ge Detector
Energy Efficiency
  1. 1.      K. Debertin, B. Grosswendt, “Efficiency calibration of semi conductor detectors by primary standard sources and Monte Carlo calculations,” Nucl. Inst. Methods 203, 343 (1982).

 

  1. 2.      F. Sanchez, “A Monte Carlo based method of including gamma self–absorption for environmental samples,” Nucl. Inst. Methods B61, 535 (1991).

 

  1. 3.      M. Decombaz, J.J. Gostely, “Coincidence–summing correction for extended sources in gamma–ray spectrometry using Monte Carlo simulation,” Nucl. Inst. Methods A 312, 152 (1992).

 

  1. 4.      M.W. Overwater, P. Bode, “Gamma–ray spectroscopy of voluminous sources: corrections for source geometry and self–attenuation,” Nucl. Inst. Methods A 324, 209 (1993).

 

 

 

 
 

53
 

 

 


  1. 5.      B. Quincddence, “Summing corrections in gamma spectrometry,” Appl. Radiat. Isot. 46, 961 (1995).

 

  1. 6.      M. Mosstajaboddavati, M.R. Abdi, H. Faghihian, “Efficiency calibration and measurement of self–absorption corrosion for environmental gamma spectroscopy of sample using Marinelli beaker,” Radio. Anal. Nucl. Vol. 268, No. 3, 539 (2006).

 

  1. 7.      J.F. Briesmeister, “MCNP-a general Monte Carlo N-Particle transport code,” Version 4B, LA-126625-M, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, March (1997).

 

  1. 8.      J. Rodenas, J. Ortiz, I. Ballesteros, V. Serradell, “Analysis of the simulation of Ge-detector calibration for environmental radioactive samples in a Marinelli beaker source using the Monte Carlo Method, Proceedings of the International conference on Advanced Monte Carlo for Radiation Physics,” Lisbon, Portugal, 23-26 October (MC 2000).

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