Experimental validation of corrections factors for \u03b3\u2013\u03b3 and \u03b3\u2013X coincidence summing of 133Ba, 152Eu, and 125Sb in volume sources

S Jonsson,T Vidmar,H Ramebäck,J Kastlander

doi:10.1007/s10967-019-06938-3

Abstract

True coincidence summing correction factors for 133Ba, 152Eu and 125Sb were determined experimentally for a small volume source and compared with correction factors obtained with three softwares (EFFTRAN-X, GESPECOR and VGSL). The radionuclides investigated have a relatively challenging decay scheme and their spectra are known to suffer from losses due to summation (γ–γ, γ–X and X–X) when measured at close distances on a HPGe detector sensitive to low energy photons. This study shows that the softwares were in good agreement with each other and the experimental data and the calculated activity was consistent with the activity in the volume source.

Highlights

Gamma ray spectrometry with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors is one of the most widely used methods for radioactivity measurements
Measurements of environmental samples with HPGe detectors conducted in close distance to the detector will result in low detection limits with counting times compared to distant geometries
It is clear that the calculated correction factors are in good agreement with each other

Summary

Introduction

Gamma ray spectrometry with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors is one of the most widely used methods for radioactivity measurements. The aim with this study was to addresses the user perspective and investigate the γ–γ and γ–X TCS corrections of 133Ba, 152Eu and 125Sb with three different softwares (EFFTRAN-X, GESPECOR and VGSL) [1,2,3] and compare the results to experimental data. The estimation is based on experiences from a previous study where the uncertainty of the summing correction factor did not significantly affect the combined uncertainty of the measurement result for volume sources [11].

Results

Conclusion