Automated isotope identification algorithms for low-resolution gamma spectrometers

Stinnett, Jacob Benjamin

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95304 Copy

Description

Title

Automated isotope identification algorithms for low-resolution gamma spectrometers

Author(s)

Stinnett, Jacob Benjamin

Issue Date

2016-11-01

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Sullivan, Clair J.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Sullivan, Clair J.

Committee Member(s)

• Stubbins, James F.
• Ruzic, David N.
• Varshney, Lav R.

Department of Study

Nuclear, Plasma, & Rad Engr

Discipline

Nuclear, Plasma, Radiolgc Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Gamma-ray spectroscopy
• Bayesian classifiers
• Isotope identification
• Wavelets

Abstract

Handheld radio-isotope identifiers (RIIDs) are widely deployed for nuclear security applications, but these detectors generally have poor isotope identification performance. Most of these deployed detectors use low-resolution NaI scintillators due to their low cost and good efficiency. Alternative detection hardware could be used to improve performance, but better detectors are generally cost-prohibitive for wide deployment in this mission space. However, a trained spectroscopist can use these low-resolution detectors to make much more accurate identifications than the RIIDs produce. For this reason, it has been suggested that these RIIDs could be significantly improved by changing the onboard identification algorithms. To this end, a peak-based Bayesian classifier has been developed to perform automated isotope identification. This algorithm was constructed to mimic the manual identification that a spectroscopist would perform. This approach can handle challenges such as detector calibration drift and unknown shielding scenarios, is capable of identifying mixed radiation sources, and is computationally inexpensive enough to be feasible for deployment on handheld RIID systems. A method for easily generating isotope libraries that are coupled to the detector and to the feature extraction algorithm is presented as well. This method is demonstrated on a broad variety of gamma-ray spectra, ranging from small calibration sources ($<$ 1 $\mu$Ci) to Category I quantities of special nuclear material. This algorithm is also benchmarked against the ANSI N42.34-2006 Standard for Handheld Identifiers as a part of the Department of Homeland Security Algorithm Improvement Program.

Graduation Semester

2016-12

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95304

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Jacob Benjamin Stinnett

Owning Collections