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Maximum detection distances for gamma emitting point sources in mobile gamma spectrometry

Finck, Robert LU ; Bukartas, Antanas LU ; Jönsson, Mattias LU and Rääf, Christopher LU orcid (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
; ; and
organization
publishing date
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}},
}