Design, Construction and Performance Evaluation of a HPGe Detector Shield
A multilayer passive shield composed of low-activity
lead (Pb), copper (Cu), tin (Sn) and iron (Fe) was designed and
manufactured for a coaxial HPGe detector placed at a surface
laboratory for reducing background radiation and radiation dose to
the personnel. The performance of the shield was evaluated and
efficiency curves of the detector were plotted by using of various
standard sources in different distances. Monte Carlo simulations and
a set of TLD chips were used for dose estimation in two distances of
20 and 40 cm. The results show that the shield reduced background
spectrum and the personnel dose more than 95%.
[1] R. F. Hill, G. J. Hine, L. D. Marinelli, “The quantitative determination of
gamma radiation in biological research,” Am. J. Roentgenol. Radium
Ther. vol. 63, pp. 160–169, 1950.
[2] G. Heusser., “Studies of gamma-ray background with a low level
germanium spectrometer,” Nuc. Instrum. Methods B., vol. 58, pp. 79–84,
1991.
[3] G. Heusser., “Low-Radioactivity Background Techniques,” Annu. Rev.
Nucl. Part. Sci., vol. 45, pp. 543-590, 1995.
[4] P. Theodorsson., “Measurement of Weak Radioactivity,” World
Scientific, Singapore. 1996.
[5] R. Núñez-Lagos, and A. Virto., “Shielding and background reduction,”
Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 47, pp. 1011–1021, 1996.
[6] M. Hult, G. Lutter, A. Yüksel, G. Marissensa, M. Misiaszek and U.
Rosengård, “Comparison of background in underground HPGe-detectors
in different lead shield configurations,” Appl. Rad. Isot. vol. 81, pp.
103–108, 2013.
[7] R. Wordel, D. Mouchel, A. Bonne, et al., “Low level gamma-ray
measurements in a 225 m deep under-ground laboratory,” In: M.
Garcı´a-Leø´n, R. Garcı´a-Tenorio, (Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd
International Summer School, Low-Level Measurements of
Radioactivity in the Environment, Huelva. World Scientific, Singapore,
p. 141, 1993.
[8] C. Apersella, “A low background counting facility at Laboratory
Nazionali del Gran Sasso,” Appl. Radiat. Isot. vol. 47, pp. 991–996,
1996.
[9] M. Garcı´a-Leo´n, R. Garcı´a-Tenorio, (Eds.), Background in ionizing
radiation detection illustrated by Ge-Spectrometry. Proceedings of the
3rd International Summer School, Low-Level Measurements of
Radioactivity in the Environment, Huelva, World Scientific, Singapore,
p. 69, 1994.
[10] H. Neder, G. Heusser, and M. Laubenstein, “Low level g-ray
germanium-spectrometer to measure very low primordial radionuclide
concentrations,” Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 53, pp. 191–195, 2000.
[11] K. Shizuma, K. Fukami, and K. Iwatani and H. Hasai., “Lowbackground
shielding of Ge detectors for the measurement of residual
152Eu radioactivity induced by neutrons from the Hiroshima atomic
bomb,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods B., vol. 66, pp. 459–464, 1992.
[12] P. Vojtyla and P. P. Povinec, “A Monte Carlo simulation of background
characteristics of low-level HPGe detectors,” Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 53,
pp. 185–190, 2000.
[13] F. El-Daoushy, R. Garcı´a-Tenorio, “Well Ge and semi-planar Ge HP
detectors for low-level gamma-spectrometry,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods
A., vol. 356, pp. 376–384, 1995.
[14] R. Wordel, D. Mouchel, E. Steinbauer and R. Oyrer., “An active
background discrimination technique using a multiple detector event by
event recording system,” Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 47, pp. 1061–1067,
1996.
[15] T. M. Semkow, P. P. Parekh, C.D. Schwenker, A.J. Khan, A. Bari, J.F.
Colaresi, O.K. Tench, G. David and W. Guryn, “Low-background gamma spectrometry for environmental radioactivity,” Appl. Radiat.
Isot. 57, 213–223, 2002.
[16] J. A. Bearden, A. F. Burr, “Reevaluation of X-Ray Atomic Energy
Levels,” Rev. Mod. Phys., vol. 39, pp. 125-142, 1967.
[17] J. Bosona, G. Agren, and L. Johansson, “A detailed investigation of
HPGe detector response for improved Monte Carlo efficiency
calculations,” Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. A., vol. 587, pp. 304–314,
2008.
[18] J. Eakins, “An MCNP-4C2 Determination of Gamma Source Shielding,”
Health Protection Agency, Center for Radiation, Chemical and
Environmental Hazards, Radiation Protection Division, ISBN 978-0-
85951-603-7, 2007.
[19] J. K. Shultis and R.E. Faw., “An MCNP Primer,” Kansas State
University, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, 2010.
[20] G. F. Knoll, “Radiation detection and measurement,” Third eds. John
Wiley & Sons Inc, New York, 1999.
[1] R. F. Hill, G. J. Hine, L. D. Marinelli, “The quantitative determination of
gamma radiation in biological research,” Am. J. Roentgenol. Radium
Ther. vol. 63, pp. 160–169, 1950.
[2] G. Heusser., “Studies of gamma-ray background with a low level
germanium spectrometer,” Nuc. Instrum. Methods B., vol. 58, pp. 79–84,
1991.
[3] G. Heusser., “Low-Radioactivity Background Techniques,” Annu. Rev.
Nucl. Part. Sci., vol. 45, pp. 543-590, 1995.
[4] P. Theodorsson., “Measurement of Weak Radioactivity,” World
Scientific, Singapore. 1996.
[5] R. Núñez-Lagos, and A. Virto., “Shielding and background reduction,”
Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 47, pp. 1011–1021, 1996.
[6] M. Hult, G. Lutter, A. Yüksel, G. Marissensa, M. Misiaszek and U.
Rosengård, “Comparison of background in underground HPGe-detectors
in different lead shield configurations,” Appl. Rad. Isot. vol. 81, pp.
103–108, 2013.
[7] R. Wordel, D. Mouchel, A. Bonne, et al., “Low level gamma-ray
measurements in a 225 m deep under-ground laboratory,” In: M.
Garcı´a-Leø´n, R. Garcı´a-Tenorio, (Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd
International Summer School, Low-Level Measurements of
Radioactivity in the Environment, Huelva. World Scientific, Singapore,
p. 141, 1993.
[8] C. Apersella, “A low background counting facility at Laboratory
Nazionali del Gran Sasso,” Appl. Radiat. Isot. vol. 47, pp. 991–996,
1996.
[9] M. Garcı´a-Leo´n, R. Garcı´a-Tenorio, (Eds.), Background in ionizing
radiation detection illustrated by Ge-Spectrometry. Proceedings of the
3rd International Summer School, Low-Level Measurements of
Radioactivity in the Environment, Huelva, World Scientific, Singapore,
p. 69, 1994.
[10] H. Neder, G. Heusser, and M. Laubenstein, “Low level g-ray
germanium-spectrometer to measure very low primordial radionuclide
concentrations,” Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 53, pp. 191–195, 2000.
[11] K. Shizuma, K. Fukami, and K. Iwatani and H. Hasai., “Lowbackground
shielding of Ge detectors for the measurement of residual
152Eu radioactivity induced by neutrons from the Hiroshima atomic
bomb,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods B., vol. 66, pp. 459–464, 1992.
[12] P. Vojtyla and P. P. Povinec, “A Monte Carlo simulation of background
characteristics of low-level HPGe detectors,” Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 53,
pp. 185–190, 2000.
[13] F. El-Daoushy, R. Garcı´a-Tenorio, “Well Ge and semi-planar Ge HP
detectors for low-level gamma-spectrometry,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods
A., vol. 356, pp. 376–384, 1995.
[14] R. Wordel, D. Mouchel, E. Steinbauer and R. Oyrer., “An active
background discrimination technique using a multiple detector event by
event recording system,” Appl. Radiat. Isot., vol. 47, pp. 1061–1067,
1996.
[15] T. M. Semkow, P. P. Parekh, C.D. Schwenker, A.J. Khan, A. Bari, J.F.
Colaresi, O.K. Tench, G. David and W. Guryn, “Low-background gamma spectrometry for environmental radioactivity,” Appl. Radiat.
Isot. 57, 213–223, 2002.
[16] J. A. Bearden, A. F. Burr, “Reevaluation of X-Ray Atomic Energy
Levels,” Rev. Mod. Phys., vol. 39, pp. 125-142, 1967.
[17] J. Bosona, G. Agren, and L. Johansson, “A detailed investigation of
HPGe detector response for improved Monte Carlo efficiency
calculations,” Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. A., vol. 587, pp. 304–314,
2008.
[18] J. Eakins, “An MCNP-4C2 Determination of Gamma Source Shielding,”
Health Protection Agency, Center for Radiation, Chemical and
Environmental Hazards, Radiation Protection Division, ISBN 978-0-
85951-603-7, 2007.
[19] J. K. Shultis and R.E. Faw., “An MCNP Primer,” Kansas State
University, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, 2010.
[20] G. F. Knoll, “Radiation detection and measurement,” Third eds. John
Wiley & Sons Inc, New York, 1999.
@article{"International Journal of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences:70884", author = "M. Sharifi and M. Mirzaii and F. Bolourinovin and H. Yousefnia and M. Akbari and K. Yousefi-Mojir", title = "Design, Construction and Performance Evaluation of a HPGe Detector Shield", abstract = "A multilayer passive shield composed of low-activity
lead (Pb), copper (Cu), tin (Sn) and iron (Fe) was designed and
manufactured for a coaxial HPGe detector placed at a surface
laboratory for reducing background radiation and radiation dose to
the personnel. The performance of the shield was evaluated and
efficiency curves of the detector were plotted by using of various
standard sources in different distances. Monte Carlo simulations and
a set of TLD chips were used for dose estimation in two distances of
20 and 40 cm. The results show that the shield reduced background
spectrum and the personnel dose more than 95%.", keywords = "HPGe shield, background count, personnel dose,
efficiency curve.", volume = "9", number = "9", pages = "528-5", }
