Skip to main content
Log in

Determination of the dead-layer thickness for both p- and n-type HPGe detectors using the two-line method

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, an approach for determining both the outer dead layer thickness of the p-type coaxial HPGe detector and the inner dead layer thickness of the n-type coaxial HPGe detector was proposed by using two full energy peak area count ratios of a X-ray and a gamma ray emitted from the same radioisotope of 137Cs. Monte Carlo calculations and experimental measurements were conducted to determine these dead layer thicknesses. The results showed that the outer dead layer thickness reached 0.57 ± 0.03 mm on 06 Jan 2017 after nearly 3 years of use for the p-type detector. The inner dead layer thickness reached 1.21 ± 0.24 mm on 01 Aug 2016 after more than 3 years of operation for the n-type detector. Simulation model with the modified dead layer thicknesses was used to estimate full energy peak efficiencies and gamma spectra from seven radioactive sources. The results were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental values in the gamma energy region of interest.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Elanique A, Marzocchi O, Leone D, Hegenbart L, Breustedt B, Oufni L (2012) Dead layer thickness characterization of an HPGe detector by measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. Appl Radiat Isot 70:538–542

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Boson J, Agren G, Johansson L (2008) A detailed investigation of HPGe detector response for improved Monte Carlo efficiency calculations. Nucl Instrum Meth A 587:304–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dryak P, Kovar P (2006) Experimental and MC determination of HPGe detector efficiency in the 40–2754 keV energy range for measuring point source geometry with the source to detector distance of 25 cm. Appl Radiat Isot 64:1346–1349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Andreotti E, Hult M, Marissens G, Lutter G, Garfagnini A, Hemmer S, von Sturm K (2014) Determination of dead layer variation in HPGe detector. Appl Radiat Isot 87:331–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Huy NQ, Binh DQ, An VX (2007) Study on the increase of inactive germanium layer in a high-purity germanium detector after a long time operation applying MCNP code. Nucl Instrum Meth A 537:384–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Huy NQ et al (2010) The influence of dead layer thickness increase on efficiency decrease for a coaxial HPGe p-type detector. Nucl Instrum Meth A 621:390–394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rodenas J, Pascual A, Zarza I, Serradell V, Ortiz J, Ballesteros L (2003) Analysis of the influence of germanium dead layer on detector calibration simulation for environmental radioactive samples using the Monte Carlo method. Nucl Instrum Meth A 496:390–399

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sowa W, Martini E, Gehrcke G, Marschner P, Naziry MJ (1989) Uncertainties of in situ gamma spectrometry for environmental monitoring. Radiat Prot Dosim 27(2):93

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rybacek K, Jacob P, Meckbach R (1992) In-situ determination of deposited radionuclide activities: Improved method using derived depth distribution from the measured photon spectra. Health Phys 62(6):519–528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Loan TTH, Ba VN, Thy THN, Hong HTY (2016) Validation for Monte Carlo simulation of characteristics of gamma spectrometer using HPGe GMX 35P470 detector by MCNP5 and Geant 4 codes. J Sci Ho Chi Minh City Univ Edu 3(81):27–33

    Google Scholar 

  11. X-5 Monte Carlo Team (2005) MCNP5—Monte Carlo N-particle transport code system, Los Alamos National Laboratory. LA-UR-03-1987

  12. Loan TTH, Phuong DN, Thanh TT, Khanh TA, Nhon MV (2007) Monte-Carlo simulation of HPGe detector response function with using MCNP code. Commun Phys 17(1):59–64

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study is funded by Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City under Grant Number B2017-18-01.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Truong Thi Hong Loan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Loan, T.T.H., Ba, V.N., Thy, T.H.N. et al. Determination of the dead-layer thickness for both p- and n-type HPGe detectors using the two-line method. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 315, 95–101 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5637-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5637-8

Keywords

Navigation