Monte Carlo simulation accuracy for calibrating germanium detector photon efficiency
Over the past 30 years, Monte Carlo simulation of photons interacting with matter has gradually improved to the extent that it now appears suitable for calibrating germanium detectors for counting efficiency in gamma-ray spectral analysis. The process is particularly useful because it can be applied for a variety of source shapes and spatial relations between source and detector by simply redefining the geometry, whereas calibration with radioactive standards requires a separate set of measurements for each source shape and location relative to the detector. Simulation accuracy was evaluated for two large (126% and 110%) and one medium-sized (20%) detectors with radioactive point sources at distances of 10 m, 1.6 m, and 0.50 m and with aqueous solutions in a 0.5-L reentrant beaker and in jars of similar volume but various dimensions. The sensitivity in comparing measured and simulated results was limited by a combined uncertainty of about 3% in the radioactive standards and experimental conditions. Simulation was performed with the MCNP-4 code.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 508118
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/EA/CP-92045; CONF-970607-30; ON: DE97007098; TRN: 97:013420
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ARS `97: American Nuclear Society (ANS) international meeting on advanced reactors safety, Orlando, FL (United States), 1-5 Jun 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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