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Gross count multi-spectra analysis of weak activity sources amid elevated background and various shielded conditions

dc.contributor.authorFischer, Joseph Christian, author
dc.contributor.authorBrandl, Alexander, advisor
dc.contributor.authorJohnson, Thomas E., committee member
dc.contributor.authorLindsay, James, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-10T20:05:52Z
dc.date.available2018-09-10T20:05:52Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractCurrent methods to detect low activity radiological sources in areas with elevated or changing background may be insufficient for assessing real-time events. Background radiation fluctuates throughout the day, which thwarts the effectiveness of decision thresholds (y*) extrapolated from long background count times. However, decision thresholds calculated from a string of spectral measurements can be used to optimize the decision threshold (y*) at which count rates statistically exceed background. The goal of this project is to apply a frequentist string data analysis tool to real-time gross count sodium iodide (NaI) spectra under varying background radiation and shielding conditions. A sodium iodide scintillator is utilized with the ProSpect acquisition software to acquire gross count data for analysis of the source detection efficiency under varying background and shielding conditions. A series of measurements is taken using short count times, and assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves. The best combination of N measurements, with n events individually exceeding a discriminator threshold, is determined using true positive rates from the generated ROC curves. Ideally, the optimized combination of n exceedances of the discriminator threshold in N measurements discerns weak signals from elevated background, while minimizing false positive events.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierFischer_colostate_0053N_15092.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/191486
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.titleGross count multi-spectra analysis of weak activity sources amid elevated background and various shielded conditions
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental and Radiological Health Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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