Optimization and validation of a LaBr3(Ce) detector model for use in Monte Carlo simulations

Md Moudud Hasan; Tim Vidmar; Jos Rutten; Leen Verheyen; Johan Camps; Marijke Huysmans

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109790

Optimization and validation of a LaBr₃(Ce) detector model for use in Monte Carlo simulations

Appl Radiat Isot. 2021 Aug:174:109790. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109790. Epub 2021 May 25.

Authors

Md Moudud Hasan¹, Tim Vidmar², Jos Rutten², Leen Verheyen², Johan Camps², Marijke Huysmans³

Affiliations

¹ SCK CEN, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, BE-2400, Mol, Belgium; Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, BE-1050, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: mhasan@sckcen.be.
² SCK CEN, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, BE-2400, Mol, Belgium.
³ Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, BE-1050, Brussels, Belgium.

PMID: 34058520
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109790

Abstract

A reliable detector model is needed for Monte Carlo efficiency calibration. A LaBr₃(Ce) detector model was optimized and verified using different radioactive sources (²⁴¹Am,¹³³Ba,¹³⁷Cs,⁶⁰Co and¹⁵²Eu) and geometries (point, extended and surface). PENELOPE and MCNP were used for Monte Carlo simulations. A good agreement was observed between simulated and experimental full energy peak efficiencies (FEPE) as their mean relative difference was 2.84% ± 1.93% and 2.79% ± 1.99% for PENELOPE and MCNP simulation, respectively. The differences between simulated FEPEs of two Monte Carlo codes were negligible except for low energies (< 100 keV).

Keywords: Gamma spectrometry; Lanthanum bromide; MCNP; Monte Carlo; PENELOPE.