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Determination of marine gamma activity and study of the minimum detectable activity (MDA) in 4pi geometry based on Monte Carlo simulation

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Abstract

Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the GEANT4 code for the investigation of γ-ray absorption in water in different spherical geometries and of the efficiency of a NaI(Tl) detector for different radionuclides in the aquatic environment. In order to test the reliability of these simulations, experimental values of the NaI(Tl) detector efficiency were deduced and seem to be in good agreement with the simulated ones. In addition, using the simulated efficiency, an algorithm was developed to determine the minimum detectable activity in becquerels per cubic meter in situ as a function of energy for typical freshwater and seawater spectra.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, P.O. Box 712, 19013, Anavyssos, Greece

    C. Bagatelas & C. Tsabaris

  2. Department of Physics, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 15780, Athens, Greece

    C. Bagatelas, M. Kokkoris, C. T. Papadopoulos & R. Vlastou

Authors
  1. C. Bagatelas
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  2. C. Tsabaris
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  3. M. Kokkoris
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  4. C. T. Papadopoulos
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  5. R. Vlastou
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Correspondence to C. Tsabaris.

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Bagatelas, C., Tsabaris, C., Kokkoris, M. et al. Determination of marine gamma activity and study of the minimum detectable activity (MDA) in 4pi geometry based on Monte Carlo simulation. Environ Monit Assess 165, 159–168 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0935-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0935-4

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