Performance of a virtual frisch-grid CdZnTe detector for prompt γ-ray induced by 14 MeV neutrons: Monte Carlo simulation study

Taewoong Lee; Younghak Kim; Ajin Jo; Jongguk Kim; Wonho Lee

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108818

Performance of a virtual frisch-grid CdZnTe detector for prompt γ-ray induced by 14 MeV neutrons: Monte Carlo simulation study

Appl Radiat Isot. 2019 Nov:153:108818. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108818. Epub 2019 Jul 20.

Authors

Taewoong Lee¹, Younghak Kim², Ajin Jo², Jongguk Kim³, Wonho Lee⁴

Affiliations

¹ Global Institute of Technology, KEPCO KPS, Munhwa-ro 211, Jeollanam-do, 58326, South Korea.
² Department of Bio-convergence Engineering, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
³ Korea Institute of Radiologic and Medical Sciences, Nowon-ro 75, Seoul, 01812, South Korea.
⁴ School of Health and Environmental Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seoul, 02841, South Korea. Electronic address: wonhol@korea.ac.kr.

PMID: 31344648
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108818

Abstract

The performance of a virtual (6 × 6 × 15 mm³) Frisch-grid cadmium zinc telluride detector for the detection of contraband with 14 MeV neutron-activation prompt γ-rays was studied using Monte Carlo simulations. A sensitive nonlinear iterative peak clipping algorithm was applied to the spectra to rapidly and easily identify the prompt γ-ray peaks. This algorithm showed better performance than directly using the original spectra. The CZT detector showed good energy resolution for the high energy prompt γ-rays and its carbon-to-oxygen peak ratios were almost equal to the theoretical value of the target contraband materials. The minimum detectable concentration of carbon and oxygen elements using the CZT detector was calculated. The simulation results for the CZT detector were compared to those of a HPGe detector and demonstrated the feasibility of using a CZT detector in neutron activation analysis.

Keywords: Detection of contraband materials; Minimum detectable concentration (MDC); Prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA); Sensitive nonlinear iterative peak clipping algorithm (SNIP); Virtual frisch-grid cadmium zinc telluride (CZT).