Why ANGLE?
- Compatibility
- All 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows from Windows XP to Windows 11
- Multiple Language: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese
- High Purity Germanium and Sodium Iodide Detector Types
- Monte Carlo Modeling methodology for most common laboratory measurement containers
-
Process Efficiency
- No Factory Detector Characterization Necessary
- Import and Export GammaVision and Genie file formats
- Command line scripting and XML Data files for automation and application integration
- Rapid modeling using Container, Geometry, and Source Matrix configurations
-
Defendable Results
- Comprehensive Reporting of Efficiency Calculation Model
- Actual and Relative Efficiency Method provides Calibration Standard Traceability
- Graphical Display of model
- High Accuracy with Extensive Comparison Testing
Detector Model
The Detector Model defines the physical construction of the detector. The input parameters are dependent on the detector type which may be Germanium or Sodium Iodide in Coaxial, Planar, or Well configurations. A graphic display of each model helps validate the appropriate detector type in the configuration process. Some parameters, such as the Inactive material thickness and the Contact thickness, are usually not precisely known for each detector so nominal values are typically used. These minor deviations are typically inconsequential with the Efficiency Transfer calculation method implemented in ANGLE because the minor error in transmission cancels out in the Reference and Target solid angle models. This is one of the significant advantages of Efficiency Transfer over modeling alone. And, if the detector response is affected by changes to any of these parameters, then a new Reference calibration can be generated with standard sources in the lab instead of having to return the detector to the factory for an expensive and time consuming characterization.
Detector Types:
- HPGe: Closed or open end coaxial, Planar, and Well
- Ge(Li): Closed or open end coaxial
- NaI: Cylinder and Well
Container and Source Model
Containers define the physical holders of source or sample material, and Sources define the actual material within the container. Containers and Sources are defined independently in ANGLE to simplify the process of establishing different combinations of material and volume in each container. Common materials are pre-defined for Containers and Sources, and additional materials can easily be added based on user-defined compounds or mixtures.
Container Types:
- Marinelli
- Cylinder to define Point Source, Filter Paper, Disk, Charcoal Cartridge, and Bottles
Geometry Model
The Geometry defines the relative position of the Container to the Detector including any sample holders that may be used and up to five additional absorbing layers between the detector and the container. Common materials for sample holders and absorbers are pre-defined, and additional materials are easily added by the user.
Reference Efficiency Calibration
ANGLE eliminates complex, expensive, and time consuming detector characterization because the Reference Calibration can be determined by direct measurement of a known source within the lab. Optimally, the Reference Calibration is determined using a source/geometry that is similar to the one being modeled in order to minimize uncertainty in the modeled efficiency; however, any source/geometry can be used as the reference when modeling any other source/geometry with good results when all of the detector and source/geometry configuration parameters are well known.
The Reference Energy/Efficiency pairs can be manually entered into ANGLE, or imported from either ORTEC GammaVision Efficiency Tables or Genie CAM files. A calibration curve is then generated using up to a 6-order logarithmic polynomial function over each of up to ten different energy regions to optimize the calibration fit. Alternatively, the reference Energy/Efficiency pairs can exclude the fit function in order to calculate the modeled efficiency for only the input energy points without any uncertainty imposed by using a fit function. The choice to use a fit function or discrete energy/efficiency pairs is largely determined by how the extrapolated efficiency calibration will be used. In many cases, the extensive calibration fit algorithms in ANGLE can achieve a much more precise calibration fit than is possible with other spectroscopy applications.
Calculated Efficiency
ANGLE uses an Efficiency Transfer method, which is a semi-empirical approach comprised of experimental evidence (i.e. measured efficiency of a known reference source) and mathematical comparison of effective solid angle modeling for the reference and target configurations. The effective solid angle is based on the Monte Carlo methodology with the precision of the calculations set from 0.1 to 5.0%.
The derived efficiency data can be comprised of the same energy points used in the reference calibration or user-defined energy points derived by ANGLE’s robust fitting algorithms. These Energy/Efficiency pairs can then be used to generate efficiency calibrations in standard gamma spectroscopy applications. A Geometry correction file can also be generated for use in ORTEC’s GammaVision application so that the final analysis results retain traceability to the Reference calibration while applying the necessary efficiency corrections to the derived geometry configuration.
Cascade Summing Corrections are calculated with correction factors applied to the nuclide branching ratios to account for coincidence summing of photon emissions from a single atom. This correction is geometry dependent and more significant when the sample is closer to the detector.
Detailed and Summary reports of the reference and derived efficiency calibrations and their associated configurations are also available for verification and record retention.
References
1. ANGLE v2.1 — New version of the computer code for semiconductor detector gamma-efficiency calculations, S. Jovanovic, A. Dlabac and N. Mihaljevic, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, doi:10.1016/j.nima.2010.02.058.
2. Testing efficiency transfer codes for equivalence, T. Vidmar, N. Çelik, N. Cornejo Díaz, A. Dlabac, I.O.B. Ewa, J.A. Carrazana González, M. Hult1, S. Jovanovic, M.C. Lépy, N. Mihaljevic, O. Sima, F. Tzika, M. Jurado Vargas, T. Vasilopoulou and G. Vidmar, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 68, Issue 2, February 2010, Pages 355-359.
3. Reliability of two calculation codes for efficiency calibrations of HPGe detectors, K. Abbas, F. Simonelli, F. D’Alberti, M. Forte and M. F. Stroosnijder, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 56, Issue 5, May 2002, Pages 703-709.
4. Methods and software for predicting germanium detector absolute full-energy peak efficiencies, K. R. Jackman and S. R. Biegalski, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 279, Number 1/January, 2009, Pages 355-360.
5. Calculation of the absolute peak efficiency of gamma-ray detectors for different counting geometries, L. Moens, J. De Donder, Lin Xi-lei, F. De Corte, A. De Wispelaere, A. Simonits and J. Hoste, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Volume 187, Issues 2-3, 15 August 1981, Pages 451-472.
6. Calculation of the peak efficiency of high-purity germanium detectors, L. Moens and J. Hoste, The International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 34, Issue 8, August 1983, Pages 1085-1095.
7. ANGLE: A PC-code for semiconductor detector efficiency calculations, S. Jovanović, A. Dlabač, N. Mihaljevic and P. Vukotic, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 218, Number 1/April, 1997, Pages 13-20.
8. On the applicability of the effective solid angle concept in activity determination of large cylindrical sources, P. Vukotic, N. Mihaljevic, S. Jovanovic, S. Dapcevic, and F. Boreli, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 218, Number 1/April, 1997, Pages 21-26.
9. "EXTSANGLE" — An extension of the efficiency conversion program "SOLANG" to sources with a diameter larger than that of the Ge-detector, N. Mihaljevic, S. Jovanovic, F. De Corte, B. Smodiš, R. Jacimovic, G. Medin, A. De Wispelaere, P. Vukotić and P. Stegnar, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 169, Number 1/March, 1993, Pages 209-218.
10. Introduction of Marinelli effective solid angles for correcting the calibration of NaI(Tl) field gamma-ray spectrometry in TL/OSL dating, F. De Corte, S. M. Hossain, S. Jovanovic, A. Dlabac, A. De Wispelaere, D. Vandenberghe and P. Van den Haute, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 257, Number 3/September, 2003, Pages 551-555.
11. Contribution of 210Pb bremsstrahlung to the background of lead shielded gamma spectrometers, D. Mrda, I. Bikit, M. Veskovic and S. Forkapic, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, Volume 572, Issue 2, 11 March 2007, Pages 739-744.
12. Production of X-rays by cosmic-ray muons in heavily shielded gamma-ray spectrometers, I. Bikit, D. Mrda, I. Anicin, M. Veskovic, J. Slivka, M. Krmar, N. Todorovic and S. Forkapic, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, Volume 606, Issue 3, 21 July 2009, Pages 495-500.