TY - JOUR
T1 - The first experimental test of the MEFFTRAN software on HPGe detector calibration for environmental samples
AU - Krneta Nikolic, Jelena
AU - Rajacic, Milica
AU - Todorovic, Dragana
AU - Vidmar, Tim
N1 - Score=10
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - The gamma spectrometry of environmental samples poses a series of specific problems for the practitioner. The determination of full energy peak efficiencies is, in the case of environmental samples, one of the greatest challenges. In this paper, the calibration of two HPGe detectors for environmental samples in Marinelli beakers was performed using the newly developed MEFFTRAN software. The results obtained with MEFFTRAN were compared to the experimental efficiencies measured using the calibration sample produced at the Laboratory for Radiation and Environment Protection, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinca, Belgrade, in order to confirm the validity of the calculation. It is shown that calculated and experimental efficiencies are in good agreement with the discrepancies from 3.9% to þ1.5%. The results were also validated by measuring secondary reference materials provided by the IAEA within several interlaboratory proficiency tests. The activity concentration of the radionuclides in the secondary reference materials was determined using the efficiency obtained by MEFFTRAN and compared with the target value given by the IAEA. All the results in materials provided by the IAEA were acceptable except one, proving that MEFFTRAN produces satisfactory results.
AB - The gamma spectrometry of environmental samples poses a series of specific problems for the practitioner. The determination of full energy peak efficiencies is, in the case of environmental samples, one of the greatest challenges. In this paper, the calibration of two HPGe detectors for environmental samples in Marinelli beakers was performed using the newly developed MEFFTRAN software. The results obtained with MEFFTRAN were compared to the experimental efficiencies measured using the calibration sample produced at the Laboratory for Radiation and Environment Protection, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinca, Belgrade, in order to confirm the validity of the calculation. It is shown that calculated and experimental efficiencies are in good agreement with the discrepancies from 3.9% to þ1.5%. The results were also validated by measuring secondary reference materials provided by the IAEA within several interlaboratory proficiency tests. The activity concentration of the radionuclides in the secondary reference materials was determined using the efficiency obtained by MEFFTRAN and compared with the target value given by the IAEA. All the results in materials provided by the IAEA were acceptable except one, proving that MEFFTRAN produces satisfactory results.
KW - HPGe detector
KW - calibration
KW - MEFFTRAN
KW - environmental samples
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/21876428
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.10.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.10.002
M3 - Article
SN - 0265-931X
VL - 165
SP - 191
EP - 196
JO - Journal of environmental radioactivity
JF - Journal of environmental radioactivity
ER -