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Title: A Software Package Using a Mesh-grid Method for Simulating HPGe Detector Efficiencies

Journal Article · · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

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 semiempirical 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.

Research Organization:
National Security Technologies, LLC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NA)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC52-06NA25946
OSTI ID:
969333
Report Number(s):
DOE/NV/25946-686; JRNCDM; TRN: US1000927
Journal Information:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 282, Issue 1; Conference: Methods and Applications of Radioanalytical Chemistry VIII (MARC VIII) Conference; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; April 5-10, 2009; ISSN 0236-5731
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English