A probabilistic derivation of gamma-ray attenuation and application: Bayesian mass estimation with a low count spectrum

Journal Article · Thu Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 569(3):894-899

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2006.09.065· OSTI ID:896686

Anderson, Dale N; Hensley, Walter K; Barnett, Debra S; Fagan, Deborah K; McIntyre, Justin I; Hayes, James C

This paper presents an intuitive derivation of the source and absorber factors in a slab geometry formulation of gamma-ray emissions incident on a detector. Using the attenuation equations, an application to mass estimation from a passively observed spectrum is developed for sources with gamma-ray emissions. Propagation of error provides a confidence interval on the mass estimate. The developed methods are applied to experimental spectra from a known mass of plutonium 239 oxide. Fully mature, the proposed estimation method has potential in national security applications where the geometry of attenuation materials is unknown and a first-order mass estimate is sufficiently accurate.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 896686
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-48257; TRN: US200706%%234
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 569(3):894-899, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 569(3):894-899
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ATTENUATION
GEOMETRY
NATIONAL SECURITY
PLUTONIUM 239
SPECTRA
mass estimation
bayesian methods