A comparison of simple algorithms for gamma-ray spectrometers in radioactive source search applications.
Large variation in ambient gamma-ray backgrounds challenges the search for radiation sources. Raising detection thresholds is a common response, but one that comes at the price of reduced detection sensitivity. In response to this challenge, we explore several trip-wire detection algorithms for gamma-ray spectrometers. We assess their ability to mitigate background variation and find that the best-performing algorithms focus on the spectral shape over several energy bins using spectral comparison ratios and dynamically predict background with the Kalman Filter.
Jarman
Kenneth D
KD
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, MS K6-08, Richland, WA 99352, USA. kj@pnl.gov
Runkle
Robert C
RC
Anderson
Kevin K
KK
Pfund
David M
DM