Simulation analysis of the Compton-to-peak method for quantifying radiocesium deposition quantities

TL;DR

This study uses simulation to analyze how the Compton-to-peak gamma spectrometry method can quantify radiocesium deposition, focusing on the dependency of spectral ratios on vertical distribution and measurement altitude.

Contribution

The paper introduces a simulation-based approach to evaluate the sensitivity of the Compton-to-peak method for radiocesium quantification in various ground distributions and survey conditions.

Findings

Sensitivity is highest shortly after fallout when cesium is near the surface.

Lower altitude aerial surveys improve the method's accuracy.

The method requires data on measurement height and activity ratios.

Abstract

Compton-to-peak analysis is a method for selecting coefficients for converting count rates measured with in situ gamma ray spectrometry to radioactivity concentrations of $^{134}$Cs and $^{137}$Cs in the environment. Compton-to-peak analysis is based on the count rate ratio between the spectral regions containing scattered gamma rays to the primary $^{134}$Cs and $^{137}$Cs photopeaks (known as the Compton-to-peak ratio - RCP). RCP changes with the vertical distribution of $^{134}$Cs and $^{137}$Cs within the ground. Inferring this distribution enables the selection of appropriate count rate to activity concentration conversion coefficients. Here PHITS was used to simulate the dependency of RCP on different vertical distributions of $^{134}$Cs and $^{137}$Cs within the ground. A model was created of a LaBr$_3$(Ce) detector used in drone helicopter aerial surveys in Fukushima Prefecture. The model was verified by comparing simulated gamma ray spectra to measurements from test sources. Simulations were performed for the infinite half-space geometry to calculate the dependency of RCP on the mass depth distribution (exponential or uniform) of $^{134}$Cs and $^{137}$Cs within the ground, and on the altitude of the detector above the ground. The calculations suggest that the sensitivity of the Compton-to-peak method is greatest for the initial period following nuclear fallout when $^{134}$Cs and $^{137}$Cs are located close to the ground surface, and for aerial surveys conducted at low altitudes. This is because the relative differences calculated between RCP with respect to changes in the mass depth distribution were largest for these two cases. Data on the measurement height above and on the $^{134}$Cs to $^{137}$Cs activity ratio is necessary for applying the Compton-to-peak method to determine the distribution and radioactivity concentration of $^{134}$Cs and $^{137}$Cs within the ground.