Uranium Series Disequilibrium and Precision Measurement of Radionuclides Activity in Sediment Sample Using Low Background Gamma Spectrometry

Low background gamma spectrometry was used to measure the radionuclides activity of 238U, 232Th, and 235U series as well as 40K and 137Cs in a sediment sample. The goal of the study was to measure the 238U (63.3 keV peak of 234Th;1001 keV peak of 234mPa) and 235U (143.76 keV, 163.33 keV, and 205.31 keV peaks) activity by low background gamma spectrometry in sediment sample. 235U activity in environmental samples is difficult to accurately measure by gamma spectrometry due to its low abundance in nature and low gamma line intensities at 143.76 keV, 163.33 keV, and 205.31 keV. We have shown that by using low background gamma spectrometry, it is possible to accurately measure the 235U activity in sediment samples. The 235U activity was measured without using the major peak of 185.7 keV (Iγ = 57.2%) which requires interference correction from 186.21 keV of 226Ra. 226Ra activity was determined by measuring 222Rn daughters (214Pb and 214Bi). The precision and accuracy of the gamma activity measurement in the sediment sample were verified by using the HPGe detectors with Certified Reference Material (CRM) Irish Sea Sediment (IAEA-385). The results obtained for the 63.33 keV energy line of 234Th are compared with the 1001 keV energy line of 234mPa. The values of 238U and 235U activities, as well as 40K, 137Cs, and 226Ra, agreed with the certificate values of CRM. The results show that the 238U is in equilibrium with its daughters (234Th, 234mPa, and 210Pb). 232Th is also in equilibrium with its daughters (228Ra, 212Pb, 212Bi and 208Tl). 235U/238U activity ratio of 0.046 ± 0.007 in the sediment is constant in nature but fluctuates due to geological processes. A value of 0.055 ± 0.008 was found in our sediment sample.

A new method for high-energy pulsed Gamma measurement within intense background x-rays

The accelerator-generating 6.13 MeV pulsed Gamma by 19F（p, αγ）160 reaction usually synchronizes with an intense bremsstrahlung x-ray which has a maximum energy of 1 MeV. This paper proposes a new method, named the scattering and absorbing method, to diagnose the 6.13 MeV Gamma. This method includes two parts： the detector and a scatterer placed in front of the detector. The detector converts the Gamma to electrons and then collects the electrons by a scintillator. In order to restrain the interference of the low-energy background, the scintillator collects the electrons at a small angle. The scintillator is wrapped with electro-absorbing material to absorb the low-energy electrons generated by background x-rays. The theoretical sensitivity ratio of 6.13 MeV Gamma to 1 MeV x-rays is greater than 150. The scatterer is a pretreatment tool to scatter some background x-rays away from the radial beam before they enter the detector. By varying the length, the scatterer can reduce the background x-rays to an acceptable level for the detector.

Background deduction of the Chang'E-1 gamma-ray spectrometer data

Gamma-ray spectrometer(GRS) is used to detect the elemental abundances and distributions on the lunar surface.To derive the elemental abundances,it is vital to acquire background gamma rays except lunar gamma rays.So GRS would observe background spectra in the course of earth-moon transfer on schedule.But in fact,GRS was not switched on in the course of flying toward the moon.After the CE-1 probe finished one-year mission,GRS car-ried out a test on background data on November 21?22,2008.The authors did conduct research on the methods of background deduction using 2105 hours of usable gamma-ray spectra acquired at the 200-km orbital height by the GRS and more than 5 hours of gamma-ray spectra acquired in the GRS background test.The final research results showed that the method of deducting the background using the minimum counts in the CE-1 GRS pixels is optimal for the elements,U,K and Th.The method applies to such a case that the elemental abundances in the pixel with the minimum counting rate are 0 μg/g and the continuum background counts are constant over the Moon.Based on the method of background deduction,the full energy peak counts of U,K,and Th are calculated.

基于自适应导数-高斯寻峰算法的自动稳谱研究

航空γ能谱仪在高空测量过程中由于本底计数率较低,容易产生稳谱周期长、受温度影响较大等因素造成的谱线漂移问题,严重影响了测量结果的准确性。因此,本文提出了一种自适应导数-高斯联合寻峰算法,以达到航空γ能谱仪在低本底环境下快速寻峰、稳峰的目的。首先对导数寻峰算法的过程进行了优化,算法根据限定条件自动确定峰位道址及其左右边界,实现高斯寻峰算法的自适应变换本底窗宽扣除,然后使用高斯寻峰结果与导数寻峰结果进行对比验证,确保寻峰结果的准确性。实际测量结果表明:自适应导数-高斯联合寻峰算法计算速度快,准确率高,1024道航空γ能谱仪在-20~50℃范围内40K峰实测最大谱漂不超过±3道,为低本底环境下的航空γ能谱准确测量提供了新的稳谱方法。

GEANT4 simulation of the characteristic gamma-ray spectrum of TNT under soil induced by DT neutrons

The characteristic gamma-ray spectrum of TNT in the soil induced by DT neutrons is measured by the PFTNA demining system. The GEANT4 toolkit is used to simulate the whole experimental procedure. The simulated spectra are compared with the experimental spectra, and they are mainly consistent. The share of the background sources such as neutrons and gamma is obtained and the contribution that the experimental apparatus to the background, such as shielding, detector sleeve and moderator, is analyzed. The effective gamma signal(from soil and TNT) is 29% of the full spectrum signal, and the background signal, more than 68%, this is mainly produced by shielding and the detector sleeve. By gradually optimizing the shielding and the cadmium sheet of the detector sleeve, the share of the effective gamma signal increases to 47%, and the background signal reduces to 18%.

Natural background radiation dose rate levels and incidences of reproductive abnormalities in high radiation area in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria

A 10 y (1999-2008) birth records from two public and most accessible maternity hospitals locally in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria were used to investigate the possible association of high outdoor gamma radiation exposure on reproductive abnormalities in the city. From the delivery record of 11,923 births in the period under study, a total number of 485 incidences of reproductive abnormalities were recoded. These incidences comprise 228 multiple births, 190 still births and, 67 premature births. Using the available terrestrial gamma radiation exposure data for the city and different reproductive abnormalities, regression assessment was carried out using the Pearson Product Moment (PPM) correlation statistics. The correlation showed that the incidences of reproductive abnormalities and the radiation dose levels were negatively correlated and correlation coefficient values were very low for each of the reproductive abnormalities considered. Factors such as socio-economic potentials of patients, dietary and other environmental factors may have substantial influence on the reproductive defects in the area other than radiation. However, the present study has added to the radiometric information needed in understanding the relationship between natural outdoor radiation exposure and occurrences of reproductive abnormalities in areas of high radiation in the country.

Assessment of Background Radiation and Associated Dose Rates in Soil Samples from Norochcholai in the North Western Coast of Sri Lanka

This study assesses radiation levels in soil, water and air in the Norochcholai, an area in Sri Lanka closest to the Kundankulam nuclear power plant, India which is situated in the North Western coast. This is important for monitoring radiation hazards and will be useful in case of a nuclear accident. Superficial soil and water samples from 23 locations were analyzed by Gamma spectrometry using HPGe detector. The activity concentrations of Th232, K40, Ra226 and Pb210 in the soil were 56.0 Bq·kg-1, 96.0 Bq·kg-1, 24.0 Bq·kg-1 and 27.0 Bq·kg-1 respectively. Dose rate at 1 m height was recorded using a survey meter (Automess 6150AD). Median dose rate was 0.098 μSv·h-1. The median gamma ray absorbed dose rate was 51.2 nGy·h-1, which is lower than the global average of 57 nGy·h-1. Radium equivalent activity (Raeq) ranged from 30.3 Bq/Kg - 458.3 Bq/Kg and only one sample recorded the Raeq > 370 Bq/Kg as safe to be used in building materials. External hazardous indices of all the samples were below 1 and the mean annual effective dose was within the safe limit of 1 mSv/y. The health risk of exposure to terrestrial radiation from the soil in the area is minimal. These data could be used as baseline for radiation assessment.

NATURAL BACKGROUND RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS IN THE TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT OF HONG KONG

This paper analyses and summarizes the natural radionuclide contents of soil and building materials, radon concentrations and the penetrating radiation levels in Hong Kong. From these, a thorough and objective assessment for the terrestrial background irradiation level of Hong Kong was made. Finally, the annual effective dose equivalent received by Hong Kong people due to the natural background irradiation was calculated to be 3.2 mSv.

基于自适应伽马校正的异常驾驶行为检测方法

针对低照度条件下重型卡车司机异常驾驶行为检测方法存在检测准确率低、检测速度慢等问题,结合图像自适应增强方法和轮廓定位检测思想,提出一种基于自适应伽马校正的异常驾驶行为检测方法。对传入视频图像进行自适应伽马校正,通过抑制噪声、改善暗部和提升信息熵来提高识别准确率。基于图像灰度值和信息熵对双阈值伽马函数进行自适应调节,从而获得更丰富的边缘信息和色彩信息。利用K-近邻背景建模法将驾驶员前景图像分离以确定检测区域,通过边缘检测进行驾驶员头部和手部轮廓识别,获得关键定位点间的欧氏距离,并进行异常驾驶行为判断。在此基础上,结合异常行为次数和时间阈值,解决环境干扰和图像噪声的问题。实验结果表明,与单尺度Retinex、多尺度Retinex以及自适应直方图均衡方法相比,所提方法在提高检测准确率的同时有效提高了检测速度,能在不同环境下有效检测异常驾驶行为。

海上大气信道可见光通信波长选择

针对海上可见光通信波长选择的问题,分析了影响海上可见光通信的背景光模型和大气湍流信道模型,分别得出了两者对可见光通信质量产生影响的关键因子。根据背景光模型公式与Gamma-Gamma大气湍流模型公式,计算推导出在强光背景和大气湍流同时影响下的可见光通信误码率。对3种条件下可见光通信系统进行了仿真,得出了在不同通信距离、折射率结构参数、视场角条件下,光源波长与误码率的相关关系。该关系的明确,为海上可见光通信光源波长选择提供了理论依据。

伴随粒子法γ能谱本底测量技术

为了解决伴随粒子法瞬发γ能谱实验中随机γ本底的影响,通过实验研究了"标记"中子和非"标记"中子与物质作用产生的瞬发γ信号和随机γ本底信号。对不同情况随机本底γ谱测量进行了分析,提出了小尺度样品和大尺度样品本底测量方式。研究表明:对小尺度样品,可以通过去掉样品,选择与有样品测量的γ谱相同的时间窗进行本底测量;对于大尺度样品,可以通过在随机本底范围选取时间窗进行本底测量。

工业CT切片序列任意方向剖面的绘制方法

为获得工业CT切片序列在三维空间任意方向的剖面,提出了一种基于三维纹理映射技术的任意剖面绘制方法。该方法首先把工业CT图片序列存储为体数据,然后使用传递函数对体数据进行分类,并将分类处理后的体数据定义为三维纹理,结合人机交互给出的平面参数计算出剖切多边形各顶点及其对应的纹理坐标,最后进行纹理映射得到剖面图像。该方法的特点是利用图形处理器支持的纹理映射功能完成剖面像素的采样和插值。实验结果表明,该方法成像质量较高,显示速度较快,能够满足人机交互实际应用需要。

γ能谱法测定高浓铀样品年龄

建立了用γ能谱法测定铀年龄的方法,用低本底高分辨γ谱仪通过测定214Bi/234U活度比得到高浓铀样品的年龄。由于采用了内部效率自刻度,因此,该方法不受样品物理形态和几何形状的限制,也不需要用标准样品对系统进行效率刻度。对硝酸铀酰样品的铀年龄测量结果为18.00(4.1%)年,与样品实际年龄的相对偏差为-4.8%,误差主要来源于234U/235U比值的测量误差。

一台反康普顿HPGeγ谱仪的性能改造和应用

主要描述了一台反康普顿HPGeγ谱仪系统改造前后的结构和性能。由于原有系统的积分本底偏高,在对它进行性能测试、本底来源分析之后,采取了改造屏蔽室,更换低本底主探测器等措施。通过细致的调试,测试了主要性能指标。积分本底(能区50～2000keV)由原67min-1(主探测器相对探测效率为40%)降至约20min-1(主探测器相对探测效率为50%)。标定了滤材样品的探测效率曲线,计算了大气气溶胶取样样品中140Ba核素的最低可探测浓度(MDC)。在大气中212Pb浓度约0.3Bq/m3时,140Ba的MDC可达10μBq/m3。

航空γ能谱测量谱线比法大气氡校正的理论研究

本文介绍了在航空γ能谱测量中,校正航空γ能谱所包含大气氡本底的谱线比法理论基础及其数学模型。通过对谱线比法校正系数的探讨,分析不同组分校正系数和高度之间的关系。在此基础上,提出了校正系数获取的实验途径,避免了谱形数学拟合方法可能引起的问题。

强γ背景下中子针孔成像的点扩展函数

利用基于Geant4建立起来的针孔成像模型获得了不同偏移量下γ与中子的好事例、能量沉积的比值，并模拟分析了强γ背景对中子针孔成像点扩展函数的影响。研究结果表明：在偏移量小于1cm时，γ与中子的好事例之比、γ与中子的能量沉积峰值之比以及γ与中子的能量沉积总和之比分别在0.40～0.42，0.63～0.65以及0.46～0.49之间；偏移量大于1cm时，比值下降明显，γ对中子的影响减小。在同一偏移量下，γ射线的点扩展函数的分布范围要比中子的小，两者叠加后所获得的点扩展函数的分布范围介于两者之间。在一定入射偏移范围内的成像质量优于在针孔中心位置入射时的成像质量。

宇宙背景光子对Blazar高能伽马射线的吸收过程

Blazar高能伽马射线在宇宙传播过程中,将会和宇宙背景光子发生相互作用,从而能量会有一个降低的过程。文章将在理论上计算和分析宇宙微波背景(CMB)和河外背景光(EBL)对高能伽马射线的吸收过程,并讨论二者对不同红移情况下的高能伽马射线的吸收过程。

航空伽玛能谱测量氡校正方法探讨

介绍了航空伽玛能谱测量中三种应用广泛的大气氡本底校正方法。对三种方法基本原理做了介绍,分析不同方法的优缺点,为航空伽玛能谱测量系统中大气氡本底校正方法的选择提出建议。

基于自适用背景校正的系留缆绳损伤检测

背景不均匀对目标的检测造成了一定的困难,因此提出了一种自适用背景校正方法,通过改进Gamma校正函数,实现了对不同灰度值的不同程度的修正,使得背景校正更加均匀合理。并且能够根据图像灰度的分布,自适用地确定相关参数。仿真结果表明,该方法效果优于传统的直方图均衡化法、同态滤波法和以往改进的Gamma校正法。经过进一步改进将该方法应用于系留缆绳的损伤检测中,通过实验证明,经过背景校正的图像,利用迭代选择阈值法也可以获得理想的图像分割效果。

低本底实验室γ谱仪探测限研究

使用一台高纯锗γ谱仪在一般实验室和低本底实验室铁室中对高纯锗γ谱仪铅室本底计数率水平和3种不同介质样品γ核素进行测量分析,研究低本底实验室铁室中高纯锗γ谱仪铅室本底计数率水平的优化程度,分析测量气溶胶、生物灰、河水样品中 ^(137)Cs、^(134)Cs两种核素的探测限值,研究探测限值与测量时间的变化趋势,以及对于测量时间的优化程度。结果表明,低本底实验室铁室测量高纯锗铅室本底计数率水平比一般实验室降低了25. 6%。按不同时间测量的探测限值拟合曲线表明 ^(137)Cs、^(134)Cs两种核素的探测限值均随时间的增加而下降。不同介质样品测量中,核素 ^(137)Cs探测限值优化百分比范围为28. 81%～29. 63%,核素^(134)Cs探测限值优化百分比范围为21. 44%～25. 12%。核素 ^(137)Cs的探测限优化百分比均大于核素^(134)Cs,核素 ^(137)Cs的探测限优化程度比^(134)Cs的探测限优化程度大。在应急情况下,可结合低本底实验室铁室的测量分析结果,选择与可探测到的最低活度相对应的最优测量活时间,提高应急监测能力。