title: A comparison of simple algorithms for gamma-ray spectrometers in radioactive source search applications.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, MS K6-08, Richland, WA 99352, USA. kj@pnl.gov
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jarman
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Runkle
authors.forename: Kevin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pfund