Radioisotope identification using an energy-weighted algorithm with a proof-of-principle radiation portal monitor based on plastic scintillators

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

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.109010

Radioisotope identification using an energy-weighted algorithm with a proof-of-principle radiation portal monitor based on plastic scintillators

Appl Radiat Isot. 2020 Feb:156:109010. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.109010. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Authors

Hyun Cheol Lee¹, Wook-Geun Shin¹, Hyun Joon Choi¹, Chang-Il Choi², Chang Su Park², Hong-Suk Kim², Chul Hee Min³

Affiliations

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

PMID: 32056690
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.109010

Abstract

In this study, we validated the feasibility of an energy weighted algorithm that highlights a characteristic area including the Compton edge as a single peak in a proof-of-principle radiation portal monitor system with a plastic scintillator measuring 50 × 100 × 5 cm³. We measured the energy weighted spectra with steel shielding and the dynamic movements of the ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co sources. The results showed that the peak locations of each source could be identified under shielded or dynamic motion conditions, each within a maximum difference of 0.08 MeV.

Keywords: Energy weighted algorithm; Gamma radiation source; Plastic scintillator; Proof-of-principle radiation portal monitor; Shielding effect.