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Determining the efficiency of a broad-energy HPGe detector using Monte Carlo simulations

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Abstract

Broad-energy HPGe detectors have a useful range of 3 keV to 3 MeV, making them ideal for the assay of environmental samples. Such measurements however, are hindered by variations in the sample matrix, summing effects, and the Compton continuum. Detectors may be characterised by proprietary software in such a situation, however Monte-Carlo modelling is a useful, inexpensive alternative that also provides greater flexibility when determining the detector response and efficiency during a measurement. In the current work, a full GEANT4 model of a broad-energy HPGe detector is presented, and simulations of various samples are compared to experimental data. These are found to be accurate within 3 % at a confidence level of 95 % for energies from 30 to 3,000 keV, with greater variations below 100 keV due to an increased sensitivity to geometrical inaccuracies.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to the University of Surrey, the AWE Technical Outreach Programme and EPSRC for funding this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK

    R. Britton & P. H. Regan

  2. AWE, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, UK

    J. Burnett & A. Davies

Authors
  1. R. Britton
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  2. J. Burnett
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  3. A. Davies
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  4. P. H. Regan
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Correspondence to R. Britton.

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Britton, R., Burnett, J., Davies, A. et al. Determining the efficiency of a broad-energy HPGe detector using Monte Carlo simulations. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295, 2035–2041 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2203-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2203-2

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