A Monte Carlo study of an energy-weighted algorithm for radionuclide analysis with a plastic scintillation detector

Wook-Geun Shin; Hyun-Cheol Lee; Chang-Il Choi; Chang Soo Park; Hong-Suk Kim; Chul Hee Min

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.03.014

A Monte Carlo study of an energy-weighted algorithm for radionuclide analysis with a plastic scintillation detector

Appl Radiat Isot. 2015 Jul:101:53-59. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.03.014. Epub 2015 Mar 21.

Authors

Wook-Geun Shin¹, Hyun-Cheol Lee¹, Chang-Il Choi², Chang Soo Park², Hong-Suk Kim², Chul Hee Min³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Convergence Engineering, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea.
² Radiological Emergency & Security Preparedness Department, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Radiation Convergence Engineering, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chmin@yonsei.ac.kr.

PMID: 25836977
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.03.014

Abstract

Nuisance and false alarms due to naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) are major problems facing radiation portal monitors (RPMs) for the screening of illicit radioactive materials in airports and ports. Based on energy-weighted counts, we suggest an algorithm that distinguishes radioactive nuclides with a plastic scintillation detector that has poor energy resolution. Our simulation study, using a Monte Carlo method, demonstrated that man-made radionuclides can be separated from NORM by using a conventional RPM.

Keywords: Energy-weighted algorithm; Monte Carlo simulation; Plastic scintillator; Radiation portal monitor; Radionuclide analysis.