Biomedical subjects

RP Gardner

Publications and source records attributed to RP Gardner.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

NaI detector neutron activation spectra for PGNAA applications

When NaI detectors are used in prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis devices, they are activated by neutrons that penetrate the detector. While thermal neutron filters like boron or lithium can be used to reduce this activation, it can never be completely eliminated by this approach since high energy neutrons can penetrate the detector and thermalize inside it. This activation results in the emission of prompt gamma rays from both the I and Na and the production of the radioisotopes 128I and 24Na that subsequently decay and emit their characteristic beta particles and gamma rays. The resulting three spectra represent a background for this measurement. An experimental method for obtaining these three spectra is described and results are reported for 2" x 2", 5" x 5", 6" x 6", and 1" x 6" NaI detectors using the thermal neutron beam of the NCSU PULSTAR nuclear reactor. In addition, Monte Carlo simulation programs have been developed and used for simulating these spectra. Good results have been obtained by the Monte Carlo method for the two radioisotope spectra, and it is anticipated that good results will also be obtained for the prompt gamma-ray spectrum when the I and Na coincidence schemes are known.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

A feasibility study of a coincidence counting approach for PGNAA applications

Prompt gamma-ray nutron activation analysis (PGNAA) has an inherently low signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio primarily because of the large background (noise) associated with it. Most elements emit a significant fraction of their prompt gamma rays in coincidence with one or more other prompt gamma rays. This paper reports on initial efforts to use coincidence counting in PGNAA to significantly reduce the several sources of background and thereby increase the S/N ratio. An added benefit is the elimination of the often dominant hydrogen prompt gamma-ray spectrum which emits only a single prompt gamma ray with an energy of 2.223 MeV. Preliminary results are given for both in situ bulk analysis applications with a 252Cf neutron source and for nuclear reactor thermal neutron beam applications for small laboratory samples.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Steady neutron source measurement method for sigma(a) and sigma(s) in geological samples

An improved experimental method, using a steady neutron source in a moderating medium, has been developed to determine thermal neutron absorption and scattering cross sections for bulk geological media using discrete samples. The system design has been optimized and experimental results have been benchmarked using Monte Carlo simulation. Studies have been performed to improve the measurement sensitivity and reproducibility over previous designs. A semi-empirical model has been developed for determining both absorption and scattering cross sections of the sample.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

A new G-M counter dead time model

A hybrid G-M counter dead time model was derived by combining the idealized paralyzable and non-paralyzable models. The new model involves two parameters, which are the paralyzable and non-paralyzable dead times. The dead times used in the model are very closely related to the physical dead time of the G-M tube and its resolving time. To check the validity of the model, the decaying source method with 56Mn was used. The corrected counting rates by the new G-M dead time model were compared with the observed counting rates obtained from the measurement and gave very good agreement within 5% up to 7 x 10(4) counts/s for a G-M tube with a dead time of about 300 micros.

Journal Article↗