Modeling the impact of uncertainty in detector specification on efficiency values of a HPGe detector using ANGLE software

Abstract

The objective of this study is to model the impact of uncertainties in the engineering specifications of a typical p-type HPGe detector on the efficiency values when the measured soil sample is in contact geometry with the detector. We introduce a parameter named the normalized sensitivity impact which allows a comparative analysis to be made of the impact of the detector specification uncertainties and develop a correction factor table for the most important parameters. The areas of the detector most susceptible to error were found to be the crystal geometry, vacuum layer above the crystal and the bulletizing radius. In all cases the major impacts were mathematically modeled - for the first time - and found to vary either quadratically or logarithmically over the energy range of 180 keV to 1500 keV. Finally, we propose a set of detector characterization values that may be used in ANGLE for generating a reference efficiency curve using the efficiency transfer method inherent in this software. These values are to be used with the understanding that their uncertainty impact on the full-peak efficiency though not very significant in this counting arrangement, is not non-zero.