AN ANALYTICAL CALCULATION OF GAMMA

RAY SELF ATTENUATION CORRECTION

IN BULK SAMPLES ∗

ALLAM, KH.A. and KHATER, A.E.M.

Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

Key words: Gamma ray spectrometry, Self attenuation

correction factor, Bulk samples.
‫ﺣﺴﺎﺑﺎت ﺗﺤﻠﻴﻠﻴﺔ ﻟﺘﺼﺤﻴﺢ اﻟﺘﻮهﻴﻦ اﻟﺬاﺗﻰ ﻷﺷﻌﺔ ﺟﺎﻣﺎ ﻓﻰ اﻟﻌﻴﻨﺎت اﻟﻤﺼﻤﺘﺔ‬
‫ﺧﺎﻟﺪ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻌﺰﻳﺰ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﻋﻼم و أﺷﺮف اﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﻣﺤﻤﺪى ﺧﺎﻃﺮ‬
‫ﺧﻼﺻـﺔ‬
‫ ﺗﻢ ﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮ‬،‫ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام ﻧﻤﻮذج ﻣﻄﻮر ﻓﻰ هﺬﻩ اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻧﻤﻮذج اﻟﻜﺎﺷﻒ ﺷﺒﻪ اﻟﻨﻘﻄﻰ اﻟﻤﻘﺘﺮح ﺑﻮاﺳﻄﺔ دﻳﺒﺮﺗﻴﻦ‬
‫ وﻳﻘﻮم اﻟﺒﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ﺑﺤﺴﺎﺑﺎﺗﻪ‬.‫( ﻟﻠﻌﻴﻨﺎت اﻟﻤﻘﺎﺳﺔ ﻓﻰ ﺣﺎوﻳﺎت اﺳﻄﻮاﻧﻴﺔ‬CS) ‫ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ آﻤﺒﻴﻮﺗﺮ ﻟﺤﺴﺎب ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻞ اﻟﺘﻮهﻴﻦ اﻟﺬاﺗﻰ‬
.‫اﻋﺘﻤﺎدًا ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺒﻴﺎﻧﺎت اﻷﺳﺎﺳﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻌﻴﻨﺔ وهﻰ اﻷﺑﻌﺎد اﻟﻬﻨﺪﺳﻴﺔ واﻟﻜﺜﺎﻓﺔ وﻣﻌﺎﻣﻞ اﻟﺘﻮهﻴﻦ اﻟﻜﺘﻠﻰ ﻟﻠﻌﻴﻨﺔ‬
‫أﻣﻜﻦ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام هﺬا اﻟﺒﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ اﻟﺤﺼﻮل ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺼﻔﻮﻓﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ ﻟﺤﺴﺎب اﻟﺘﺼﺤﻴﺢ اﻟﻨﺎﺗﺞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺘﻮهﻴﻦ اﻟﺬاﺗﻰ آﺪاﻟﺔ‬
‫ وﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﻏﻢ ﻣﻦ اﺳﺘﺨﺪام اﻟﻨﻤﻮذج اﻟﻤﻘﺘﺮح ﻟﺨﺎم اﻟﺮﻣﺎل )ﺛﺎﻧﻰ أآﺴﻴﺪ اﻟﺴﻴﻠﻜﻮن( آﺨﺎﻣﺔ‬.‫ﻓﻰ ﻃﺎﻗﺔ اﻟﻔﻮﺗﻮن واﻟﻜﺜﺎﻓﺔ‬
‫ آﺎﻧﺖ اﻟﻘﻴﻢ اﻟﺘﻰ ﺗﻢ اﻟﺤﺼﻮل ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﺗﺼﺤﻴﺢ‬،‫أﺳﺎﺳﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﺤﺴﺎﺑﺎت ﻧﻈﺮًا ﻻﻧﺘﺸﺎر ﺗﻠﻚ اﻟﺘﺮآﻴﺒﺔ ﻓﻰ اﻟﻌﻴﻨﺎت اﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ‬
‫اﻟﺘﻮهﻴﻦ اﻟﺬاﺗﻰ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام اﻟﻨﻤﻮذج اﻟﻤﻘﺪم ﻣﺘﻔﻘﺔ ﻣﻊ ﻗﻴﻢ اﻟﺪراﺳﺎت اﻷﺧﺮى اﻟﺘﻰ ﺗﻢ اﻟﺤﺼﻮل ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺎ ﻟﺨﺎﻣﺎت ذات‬
.‫ﺗﺮآﻴﺒﺎت أﺧﺮى‬

ABSTRACT
In this study, a modified point-like detector model was assumed and a computer program was
developed to support the computation of self absorption correction factor (CS) by the Debertin’s
method for samples in cylindrical geometries. The input data were sample dimensions, density
and the mass attenuation coefficient. Utilizing this computer program, the self absorption
correction factor CS (E,ρ) was obtained for the applied geometries, and a SiO2 matrix was used as
routine measurements because the SiO2 matrix is widely encountered in environmental
spectrometry. The obtained values of the calculated self absorption correction factor using the
suggested model were in fair agreement with other experimental values for samples of other
matrices.

Accepted January 2014.

ISOTOPE & RAD. RES., 46(1), 17-23 (2014). ISSN 0021-1907

INIS ISRRAC EG

AN ANALYTICAL CALCULATION OF GAMMA

RAY SELF ATTENUATION CORRECTION

IN BULK SAMPLES

ALLAM, KHA. and KHATER, A.E.M.

Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

Key words: Gamma ray spectrometry, Self attenuation

correction factor, Bulk samples.

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ABSTRACT

In this study, a modified point-like detector model was assumed and a

computer program was developed to support the computation of self absorption

correction factor (Cs) by the Debertin 's method for samples in cylindrical,

geometries. The input data were sample dimensions, density and the mass

attenuation coefficient. Utilizing this computer program, the self absorption

Accepted January 2 0 1 4 .
 18 ALLAM, KH.A. and KHATER, A.E.M.

correction factor Cs (E,p) was obtained for the applied geometries, and a Si02

matrix was used as routine measurements because the Si02 matrix is widely

encountered in environmental spectrometry. The obtained values o

f the calculated

self absorption correction factor using the suggested model were in fair

agreement with other experimental values for samples o

f other matrices.

INTRODUCTION

Gamma ray spectrometry is one of the most widely used procedures to

determine the concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides in

environmental samples. It is a non-destructive technique which has the advantage

of not requiring laborious sample preparation.

In particular, the use of germanium detectors in high resolution gamma ray

spectrometry allows a precise quantitative determination of the radioactive content

of any type of sample. However, the precise determination of the activity for each

radionuclide requires prior knowledge of the full energy peak efficiency at each

photon energy for a given measuring geometry, which must be obtained by an

efficiency calibration using known standard sources of similar geometrical

dimensions, density and chemical composition to the sample under study. Photon

attenuation within the sample itself can be very different for the sample of interest

and for the calibration source. For this reason, several procedures have been

developed to evaluate the necessary self absorption corrections in gamma ray

spectrometry (Debertin and Helmer, 1 9 88 ; Nemeth and Parsa, 1992; Park et al.,

1995; Debertin and Ren, 1 989).

For given geometric setups as shown in figures (I) and (2), the correction

factor Cs is expressed as the ratio of efficiency of standard to that of the sample:

L (E, stander)
Cs(E)=---- (1)
L(E, sample)

Cs could be obtained for various densities p and photon energies E and then

the data collected for each photon energy. In widespread use, the form of the

function Cs (p) is written as:

Cs(P) = a exp (-bp) (2)

where a and b are the adjustable parameters. Finally, the procedure yields a group

of curves Cs (p) corresponding to various radiation energies (fig. 3).

The self attenuation correction factors for each photon energy and each sample

geometry can be obtained experimentally but this involves preparing and

measuring a big number of samples of different densities. Standard radioactive

samples, if available, are costly and would need to be renewed, especially when

the radionuclides have short half-lives.

 AN ANALYTICAL CALCULATION OF GAMMA . . . 19

d Z-b.

Fig. ( 1 ) : Cylindrical sample positioned on a point-like detector.

Sample

.. . .. - ... -

d Z-b.

Fig. (2): Cylindrical sample positioned on a surface-like detector.

20 A�LAM, KH.A. and KHATER, A.E.M.

1.30

• • 0.129
1.25 e 0.166

• • A 0.241

1.20 • • • ... 0.295

+ 0.336

... 0.463
• l : '
1.15 I ! • ... j
... 0.562

• 0.609

. I . . t , * 0.755
1.10 • 0.795

� 0.911
U)
+
o 1.05 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 X
1.12

1.4

.. , *
-
1.5
1.62
1.00
i 1.62

• 1.73

0.95 0 1.65

A 2.2

0.90
111 •' 'I' 2.62

•
0.85

0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2

Density

Fig. (3): Theoretical calculations for Cs for selected gamma lines.

An effective tool to overcome these problems could be the use of computer

codes based on Monte Carlo simulation, initially developed to complement the

experimental calibration procedures used in gamma ray measurements. These

procedures can be used to simulate the full energy peak efficiencies taking into

account the detailed characteristics of the detector and sample. A clear advantage

of such Monte Carlo codes is that they allow one to quickly calculate new

efficiency values for any measuring geometry. Some of these simulation codes

have been specifically applied to the study of self absorption corrections in gamma

ray spectrometry (Sima and Dovlete, 1 9 9 7 ) .

The aim of the present study is to shed more light on the significance of self

absorption correction for precise gamma ray spectrometry of bulk samples and

produce a computer code for calculating the self absorption correction based on

Monte Carlo method.

THEORETICAL STUDY

In the present study, the self absorption correction factor (Cs) was derived

using computer program based on the method proposed by Debertin and Helmer

( 1 9 8 8 ) and Debertin and Ren ( 1 9 8 9 ) . In Debertin's method, the point-like detector

model was adopted, and the detector efficiency for the specified geometry was

assumed to be proportional to the weighted sum (integral) of photons coming

from individual volume elements (dV) into which the sample may be divided

(fig. 1 ) . The weight of each element of the volume dV is determined by the fact

that the corresponding solid angle is proportional to the inverse of the squared

distance Z between the element dV and a point-like detector. The self absorption

in the sample layer Z, through which radiation can pass is proportional toe - µ ( E ) z a .
 AN ANALYTICAL CALCULATION OF GAMMA . . . 21

s ( E ) = _!_ v f s (E)dV=_!_vfc(E)e-µ<E>z,, d V = c(E) I( )

(3)
v dV v z: V µ
0 0

The Debertin's method that widely adopted in many laboratories gives good

results. The uncertainty level is approaching 1-2 % (Debertin and Ren, 1 9 8 9 , Park

et al., 1 9 9 5 ) .

New additional integration was taken for all working points of the detector

surface as given in equation (4) and fig. (2).

s(E) = f c(E) I(µ) ds (4)

s v

where ds (Ra, 8) is the segment of the working detector surface. In this study, the

computer program was developed to compute the correction factor Cs using

equation (4). This program has been written in Delphi and allows the computation

of correction factors for samples in cylindrical geometry. This program uses the

XCOM (photon cross sections database) software from the library to compute

mass attenuation factor for any samples matrixes. The input data are sample

dimensions e.g. for cylindrical samples, we have consider the diameter and

height, distance between the point-like detector and the sample lower surface

positioned over the detector, linear attenuation coefficient or mass attenuation

coefficient, sample density and composition.

Table: Comparison between self attenuation correction factors for

environmental samples and different matrices (Robul et al., 2009) as compared

with the present results.

Self attenuation correction factor (Cs)

Density Other experimental study The present study

(g/cnr')
0.088 0.122 0.622 0.088 0.122 0.661

MeV MeV MeV MeV MeV MeV

0.32 0.79 0.80 0.87 0.812 0.837 0.912

0.34 0.87 0.96 0.97 0.817 0.893 0.941

0.56 0.88 0.90 0.92 0.875 0.893 0.941

0.65 1.00 0.98 1.00 0.900 0.914 0.952

0.69 0.94 0.98 1.00 0.911 0.923 0.958

0.71 0.95 0.96 0.98 0.917 0.928 0.961

1.53 1.07 1.037 1.032 1.163 1.139 1.075

22 ALLAM, KH.A. and KHATER, A.E.M.

Utilizing the developed computer program, the correction factor Cs was

computed for a cylindrical geometry (diameter= 70 mm, height= 26 mm). It was

assumed that the sample is positioned directly on the detector top. In the present
238 214
study, Cs values were computed for 24 gamma lines in U chain (226Ra, Bi and
214 232 224 212 212 208
Pb), 32 gamma lines in Th chain (228Ac, Ra, Bi, Pb and Tl) and a
4
gamma line for °K, and in the sample density, the range from 0.5 g/cm' to 2.0

g/cm' was considered. It is assumed that the sample and standard (of density 1

g/crrr') materials have the same matrix as sand (Si0 2 ) . The values of Cs did not

exceed 25% of the value calculated for the cylindrical geometries with p = 1 g/crrr'

(fig. 3 ) . In this study, the obtained Cs results were compared with the international

theoretical and other experimental results (Jodlowski, 2006, Robul et al., 2009).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Gamma ray spectrometry based on hyper pure germanium detectors is a very

powerful tool that has a very wide range of applications in radiation measurement,

especially in environmental radioactivity measurements for different bulk

samples. Several studies have been focused on the accurate detection efficiency

calibration using different experimental Monte Carlo simulation and analytical

techniques. Other studies have been concerned with background reduction by

passive and/or active shielding for low level measurement, quality control,

optimum sample detector geometry arrangement and other aspects. However, the

variations in the chemical and physical properties of the bulk samples could be the

main source of noticeable uncertainty which was noted especially in the low

gamma ray energies (100-200 keV). The consideration of self attenuation

(absorption) correction for the bulk samples is essential for the high accuracy of

results. Different methods have been suggested and applied for self attenuation

corrections which have been performed using experimental Monte Carlo

simulations and analytical techniques (Singh et al., 2004; Pilleyre et a l . , 2006;

Sima and Dovlete, 1 9 9 7 , Korun, 2000). All these techniques can overcome the self

attenuation problem in many cases but cannot ensure its total elimination,

especially in low energy range and for some samples of high densities as

compared with the densities of the calibration sources.

The present study suggests a modified model for attenuation correction based

on Debertin's and Monte Carlo integration. The model setup was carried out for

sand sample (Si0 2) and was compared with other experimental studies carried out

by Robul et al. (2009). The obtained values for calculated self attenuation

correction coefficient using the present model were fairly close to the other

experimental values. The agreement between the obtained data in this study and

the other experimental results were within maximum difference of 8%.

 AN ANALYTICAL CALCULATION OF GAMMA . . . 23

CONCLUSION

In the present study, a computer program has been developed to compute the

self attenuation coefficient at different photon energies. The program was based

on modified Debertin (1989) method and takes into consideration all the

geometrical characteristics along with the density of the sample. The prediction of

the present modified model and the corresponding previously theoretical and

experimental studies are to great extent.

REFERENCES

Debertin, K. and Helmer, R.G., North Holland Publ., Amsterdam ( 1 9 8 8 ) .

Debertin, K. and Ren, J., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., A 278, 541-549

(1989).

Jodlowski, P . , Nukleonika, 5 1 ( 2 ) , S 2 1 - 2 5 (2006).

Kornn, M., Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 244(3), 6 8 5 - 6 8 9 (2000).

Nemeth, W.K. and Parsa, B . , Radioact. Radiochem., 3(3), 32-39 ( 1 9 9 2 ) .

Park, T . S . and Jeon, W.J., J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 1 9 3 , 1 3 3 - 1 4 4 ( 1 9 9 5 ) .

Pilleyre, T., Sanzelle, S . , Miallier, D . , Fain, J. and Courtine, F., Radiat. Meas., 4 1 ,

323-329 (2006).

Robul, E. and Giovani, C . , Romanian Reports in Physics, 61(2), 295-300 (2009).

Sima, 0. and Dovlete, C . , Appl. Radiat. Isot., 4 8 ( 1 ) , 59-69 ( 1 9 9 7 ) .

Singh, C . , Singh, T., Kumar, A. and Mudahar, G . S . , Ann. Nucl. Energy, 3 1 , 1 1 9 9 -

1205 (2004).

XCOM, National Institute of Standards and Technology, http://physics.nist.gov/

physrefdata/xcom/text/xcom.html.