A Matrix-Inversion Method for Gamma-Source Mapping From Gamma-Count Data

Author(s):  
Richard K. Bull ◽  
Ian Adsley ◽  
Claire Burgess

Gamma ray counting is often used to survey the distribution of active waste material in various locations. Ideally the output from such surveys would be a map of the activity of the waste. In this paper a simple matrix-inversion method is presented. This allows an array of gamma-count data to be converted to an array of source activities. For each survey area the response matrix is computed using the gamma-shielding code Microshield [1]. This matrix links the activity array to the count array. The activity array is then obtained via matrix inversion. The method was tested on artificially-created arrays of count-data onto which statistical noise had been added. The method was able to reproduce, quite faithfully, the original activity distribution used to generate the dataset. The method has been applied to a number of practical cases, including the distribution of activated objects in a hot cell and to activated nimonic springs amongst fuel-element debris in vaults at a nuclear plant.

Author(s):  
Ian Adsley ◽  
Richard K. Bull ◽  
Claire Burgess

In a previous paper (1) it was proposed that a simple matrix inversion method could be used to extract source distributions from gamma-count maps, using simple models to calculate the response matrix. The method was tested using numerically generated count maps. In the present work a 100 kBq Co60 source has been placed on a gridded surface and the count rate measured using a NaI scintillation detector. The resulting map of gamma counts was used as input to the matrix inversion procedure and the source position recovered. A multisource array was simulated by superposition of several single-source count maps and the source distribution was again recovered using matrix inversion. The measurements were performed for several detector heights. The effects of uncertainties in source-detector distances on the matrix-inversion method are also examined. The results from this work give confidence in the application of the method to practical applications, such as the segregation of highly active objects amongst fuel-element debris.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Rahman ◽  
G. Cho

Matrix inversion method is presented to unfold the gamma-ray spectrum obtained with an NaI(Tl) detector using several standard gamma-ray sources. The method is based on response matrix generated by Monte Carlo simulation of mono-energy gamma-ray photon ranging from 10 keV to 1 MeV in step of 10 keV. The comparison of the measured and simulated response function was also performed in order to validate the simulation response function. Good agreement was achieved around the photo-peak region of the spectrum, but slight deviation was observed at low energy region especially at Compton continuum region. The Compton continuum count was significantly transferred into the corresponding photo-peak and consequently the peak to background ratio was improved substantially by the application of the unfolding method. Therefore, small peak can be identified and analyzed that would otherwise be lost in the background.  Keywords: Gamma-ray spectrum; Unfold; NaI(Tl). © 2010 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. DOI: 10.3329/jsr.v2i2.4372              J. Sci. Res. 2 (2), 221-226 (2010) 


Radio Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilmini Karunarathne ◽  
Sumedhe Karunarathne ◽  
Thomas C. Marshall ◽  
Maribeth Stolzenburg

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-115
Author(s):  
Mwingereza Kumwenda

Performance of a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector based on the gamma-ray spectroscopy system is not satisfactory in retaining its original peak (which is delta like function) of various gamma ray spectrum. The method of achieving precise peak for the various gamma ray was conducted by converting the observed pulse-height distribution of the NaI(Tl) detector to a true photon spectrum. This method is obtained experimentally with the help of an inverse matrix deconvolution method. The method is based on response matrix generated by the Monte Carlo simulation based on Geant4 package of mono-energy gamma-ray photon ranging from 0.050 to 2.04 MeV in the interval of 10 keV. The comparison of the measured and simulated response function was also performed in order to authenticate the simulation response function. Good agreement was observed around the photo-peak region of the spectrum, but slight deviation was observed at low energy region especially below 0.2 MeV. The Compton backscattering and Compton continuum counts was significantly transferred into the corresponding photo-peak and consequently the peak to total(P/T) ratio was improved. The P/T ratio results obtained after application of the deconvolution method taken with three calibration sources with gamma-ray’s energies of 81 keV, 303 keV and 356 keV (for 133Ba), 662 keV (for 137Cs), 1173 keV and 1333keV (for 60Co), were improved from(to) 0.50(0.90), 0.40(0.83), 0.57(0.93), 0.31(0.92), 0.18(0.84) and 0.15(0.83), respectively.


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