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Title: Exploring the Impact of Nuclear Data Uncertainties in Ultra-high Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy for Isotopic Analysis Using Approximate Bayesian Computation

Abstract

High purity germanium (HPGe) currently provides the highest readily available resolution gamma detection for a broad range of radiation measurements, but microcalorimetry is a developing option that has considerably higher resolution even than HPGe. Superior microcalorimetry resolution offers the potential to better distinguish closely spaced X-rays and gamma-rays, a common challenge for the low energy spectral region near 100 keV from special nuclear materials, and the higher signal-to-background ratio also confers an advantage in detection limit. As microcalorimetry continues to develop, it is timely to assess the impact of uncertainties in detector and item response functions and in basic nuclear data, such as branching ratios and half-lives, used to interpret spectra in terms of the contributory radioactive isotopes. We illustrate that a new inference option known as approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is effective and convenient both for isotopic inference and for uncertainty quantification for microcalorimetry. The ABC approach opens a pathway to new and more powerful implementations for practical applications than currently available.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22436773
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Nuclear Data Sheets
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 123; Conference: International workshop on nuclear data covariances, Santa Fe, NM (United States), 28 Apr - 1 May 2014; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0090-3752
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; APPROXIMATIONS; CALORIMETRY; DATA COVARIANCES; GAMMA DETECTION; GAMMA RADIATION; GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY; HALF-LIFE; HIGH-PURITY GE DETECTORS; RADIOISOTOPES; RESOLUTION; X RADIATION

Citation Formats

Burr, T., E-mail: tburr@lanl.gov, Hoover, A., Croft, S., and Rabin, M. Exploring the Impact of Nuclear Data Uncertainties in Ultra-high Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy for Isotopic Analysis Using Approximate Bayesian Computation. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/J.NDS.2014.12.025.
Burr, T., E-mail: tburr@lanl.gov, Hoover, A., Croft, S., & Rabin, M. Exploring the Impact of Nuclear Data Uncertainties in Ultra-high Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy for Isotopic Analysis Using Approximate Bayesian Computation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NDS.2014.12.025
Burr, T., E-mail: tburr@lanl.gov, Hoover, A., Croft, S., and Rabin, M. 2015. "Exploring the Impact of Nuclear Data Uncertainties in Ultra-high Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy for Isotopic Analysis Using Approximate Bayesian Computation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NDS.2014.12.025.
@article{osti_22436773,
title = {Exploring the Impact of Nuclear Data Uncertainties in Ultra-high Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy for Isotopic Analysis Using Approximate Bayesian Computation},
author = {Burr, T., E-mail: tburr@lanl.gov and Hoover, A. and Croft, S. and Rabin, M.},
abstractNote = {High purity germanium (HPGe) currently provides the highest readily available resolution gamma detection for a broad range of radiation measurements, but microcalorimetry is a developing option that has considerably higher resolution even than HPGe. Superior microcalorimetry resolution offers the potential to better distinguish closely spaced X-rays and gamma-rays, a common challenge for the low energy spectral region near 100 keV from special nuclear materials, and the higher signal-to-background ratio also confers an advantage in detection limit. As microcalorimetry continues to develop, it is timely to assess the impact of uncertainties in detector and item response functions and in basic nuclear data, such as branching ratios and half-lives, used to interpret spectra in terms of the contributory radioactive isotopes. We illustrate that a new inference option known as approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is effective and convenient both for isotopic inference and for uncertainty quantification for microcalorimetry. The ABC approach opens a pathway to new and more powerful implementations for practical applications than currently available.},
doi = {10.1016/J.NDS.2014.12.025},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22436773}, journal = {Nuclear Data Sheets},
issn = {0090-3752},
number = ,
volume = 123,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}