title: The first experimental test of the MEFFTRAN software on HPGe detector calibration for environmental samples.
abstract: The gamma spectrometry of environmental samples poses a series of specific problems for the practitioner. The determination of full energy peak efficiencies is, in the case of environmental samples, one of the greatest challenges. In this paper, the calibration of two HPGe detectors for environmental samples in Marinelli beakers was performed using the newly developed MEFFTRAN software. The results obtained with MEFFTRAN were compared to the experimental efficiencies measured using the calibration sample produced at the Laboratory for Radiation and Environment Protection, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinca, Belgrade, in order to confirm the validity of the calculation. It is shown that calculated and experimental efficiencies are in good agreement with the discrepancies from -3.9% to +1.5%. The results were also validated by measuring secondary reference materials provided by the IAEA within several interlaboratory proficiency tests. The activity concentration of the radionuclides in the secondary reference materials was determined using the efficiency obtained by MEFFTRAN and compared with the target value given by the IAEA. All the results in materials provided by the IAEA were acceptable except one, proving that MEFFTRAN produces satisfactory results.
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, Mike Petrovica Alasa 12-16, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: jnikolic@vinca.rs.
authors.forename: Jelena Krneta
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, Mike Petrovica Alasa 12-16, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajacic
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, Mike Petrovica Alasa 12-16, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todorovic
authors.affiliation: SCK. CEN, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, BE-2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vidmar
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012984:Software; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants
keywords: Calibration; Environmental samples; HPGe detector; MEFFTRAN