Real time method and computer system for identifying radioactive materials from HPGe gamma-ray spectroscopy

Patent · Tue Oct 23 00:00:00 EDT 2007

OSTI ID:919360

Rowland, Mark S ^[1]; Howard, Douglas E ^[2]; Wong, James L ^[3]; Jessup, James L ^[4]; Bianchini, Greg M ^[2]; Miller, Wayne O ^[2]

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1. Alamo, CA
2. Livermore, CA
3. Dublin, CA
4. Tracy, CA

A real-time method and computer system for identifying radioactive materials which collects gamma count rates from a HPGe gamma-radiation detector to produce a high-resolution gamma-ray energy spectrum. A library of nuclear material definitions ("library definitions") is provided, with each uniquely associated with a nuclide or isotope material and each comprising at least one logic condition associated with a spectral parameter of a gamma-ray energy spectrum. The method determines whether the spectral parameters of said high-resolution gamma-ray energy spectrum satisfy all the logic conditions of any one of the library definitions, and subsequently uniquely identifies the material type as that nuclide or isotope material associated with the satisfied library definition. The method is iteratively repeated to update the spectrum and identification in real time.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 7,285,784
• Application Number: 10/828,010
• OSTI ID: 919360
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY