Comparison of methods for H*(10) calculation from measured LaBr3(Ce) detector spectra. (July 2018) - Vargas, A.
Abstract: The Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC) and the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas ( CIEMAT) have evaluated methods based on stripping, conversion coefficients and Maximum Likelihood Estimation using Expectation Maximization (ML-EM) in calculating the H *(10) rates from photon pulse-height spectra acquired with a spectrometric LaBr3 (Ce)(1.5″ × 1.5″) detector. There is a good agreement between results of the different H *(10) rate calculation methods using the spectra measured at the UPC secondary standard calibration laboratory in Barcelona. From the outdoor study at ESMERALDA station in Madrid, it can be concluded that the analysed methods provide results quite similar to those obtained with the reference RSS ionization chamber. In addition, the spectrometric detectors can also facilitate radionuclide identification. Highlights: Different methods for H *(10) calculation from gamma spectra have been implemented in home-made computer codes. The studied methods provided equivalent results in the frameworks of the associated uncertainties. The ML-EM and the stripping methods additionally provide the fluence rate spectra, useful for radionuclide identification. It is advisable to develop a plan to install spectrometric detectors at early warning stations.