Maximum detection distances for gamma emitting point sources in mobile gamma spectrometry
(2022) In Applied Radiation and Isotopes 184.- Abstract
In this study an algorithm was developed for calculating maximum detectable distance (MDD) for mobile gamma-ray detection of lost sources in-situ for some common mobile spectrometer systems and gamma sources (137Cs and 60Co). The MDD is a function of detector efficiency, vehicle speed, acquisition time interval, radiation background level and accepted frequency of false alarms. To test its accuracy in predicting the MDD experiments were conducted in-situ. Results indicate agreement with experimental mobile detection distance measurements for 60Co and 137Cs point sources. Both the algorithm and the field test show that at a vehicle speed of 50 km/h, the optimal acquisition time intervals range... (More)
In this study an algorithm was developed for calculating maximum detectable distance (MDD) for mobile gamma-ray detection of lost sources in-situ for some common mobile spectrometer systems and gamma sources (137Cs and 60Co). The MDD is a function of detector efficiency, vehicle speed, acquisition time interval, radiation background level and accepted frequency of false alarms. To test its accuracy in predicting the MDD experiments were conducted in-situ. Results indicate agreement with experimental mobile detection distance measurements for 60Co and 137Cs point sources. Both the algorithm and the field test show that at a vehicle speed of 50 km/h, the optimal acquisition time intervals range between 3 and 10 s when searching for unshielded sources with activities of 137Cs and 60Co in the order of 100 MBq. Longer acquisition time intervals (20–30 s) are better to detect higher activity sources at the same speed. However, at higher speeds, shorter time intervals should be selected to increase the MDD. The developed algorithm can help select the optimal combination of detectors, vehicle speed, and instrument settings when using mobile searching in the event of loss of gamma-ray sources.
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- author
- Finck, Robert LU ; Bukartas, Antanas LU ; Jönsson, Mattias LU and Rääf, Christopher LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Detection distance, Mobile gamma spectrometry, Orphan source search
- in
- Applied Radiation and Isotopes
- volume
- 184
- article number
- 110195
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85126972670
- pmid:35338972
- ISSN
- 0969-8043
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110195
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 7189e28d-8dab-4bbe-b5ff-3a2fcbfbf371
- date added to LUP
- 2022-04-19 12:38:34
- date last changed
- 2024-12-15 14:22:02
@article{7189e28d-8dab-4bbe-b5ff-3a2fcbfbf371, abstract = {{<p>In this study an algorithm was developed for calculating maximum detectable distance (MDD) for mobile gamma-ray detection of lost sources in-situ for some common mobile spectrometer systems and gamma sources (<sup>137</sup>Cs and <sup>60</sup>Co). The MDD is a function of detector efficiency, vehicle speed, acquisition time interval, radiation background level and accepted frequency of false alarms. To test its accuracy in predicting the MDD experiments were conducted in-situ. Results indicate agreement with experimental mobile detection distance measurements for <sup>60</sup>Co and <sup>137</sup>Cs point sources. Both the algorithm and the field test show that at a vehicle speed of 50 km/h, the optimal acquisition time intervals range between 3 and 10 s when searching for unshielded sources with activities of <sup>137</sup>Cs and <sup>60</sup>Co in the order of 100 MBq. Longer acquisition time intervals (20–30 s) are better to detect higher activity sources at the same speed. However, at higher speeds, shorter time intervals should be selected to increase the MDD. The developed algorithm can help select the optimal combination of detectors, vehicle speed, and instrument settings when using mobile searching in the event of loss of gamma-ray sources.</p>}}, author = {{Finck, Robert and Bukartas, Antanas and Jönsson, Mattias and Rääf, Christopher}}, issn = {{0969-8043}}, keywords = {{Detection distance; Mobile gamma spectrometry; Orphan source search}}, language = {{eng}}, publisher = {{Elsevier}}, series = {{Applied Radiation and Isotopes}}, title = {{Maximum detection distances for gamma emitting point sources in mobile gamma spectrometry}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110195}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110195}}, volume = {{184}}, year = {{2022}}, }