CANBERRA Benelux Training and Technical Services

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Purpose

This course provides the student with an in-depth knowledge of the Genie-2000 software package for gamma and alpha spectroscopy and radionuclide identification. It is intended for health physics and radiochemistry personnel who have some experience in gamma and/or alpha counting and want to further their knowledge in using gamma and/or alpha spectroscopy. It is recommended for personnel who are responsible for setting up and operating gamma and/or alpha spectroscopy systems or reviewing the results from these systems. Another target group are the routine users of the Genie-2000 software for gamma and/or alpha spectroscopy, who want to gain knowledge about the philosophy of the Genie-2000 software.

To do this, the course begins with some fundamental principles of nuclear structure and decay, moves quickly through the theory of gamma/alpha interaction with matter and detection theory. After that point the setup of the Genie-2000 software, calibrations of the gamma/alpha spectroscopy software and using Genie-2000 for nuclide identification and software troubleshooting are discussed.

To make the theory more interesting, a real spectroscopy chain will be available to see the immediate relationship between the software settings and the practical use of it.

The theory of nuclear physics presented in this training course is only mentioned when it has a direct relationship to spectroscopy. Only those parts of the nuclear physics are discussed when they are relevant to gamma and/or alpha spectroscopy. The course emphasizes the setup and use of the Genie-2000 software.

Additional topics of special interest may be covered depending upon student interest.

Course Content

ABOUT GENIE-2000

• CAM file structure
• Algorithm philosophy

ACQUISITION HARDWARE SETUP

• MCA Input Definition Editor

PRELUDE TO CALIBRATION

• Nuclide Library Editor
• Certificate File Editor

CALIBRATING THE SYSTEM

• Minimum requirements
• Energy calibration
• Shape calibration
• Efficiency calibration
• Peak to Total calibration

ANALYZING THE SPECTRUM

• Manual Analysis
• Analysis Sequences file editing
• Advanced Analysis Sequence file options

ALGORITHMS

• Peak locate
• Peak Area
• Peak Area Corrections (gamma and alpha specifics)
• Reagent Blank Corrections
• Nuclide identification
• Interference correction
• MDA calculation
• Reporting
• Fine Tuning of the algorithms
• Detailed explanation and use of the different algorithms

INTRODUCTION TO ADVANCED TOPICS

• Efficiency calibration based on multiple spectra
• Cascade Summing Corrections
• Parent Daughter correction
• Geometry Composer

GENIE-2000 QUALITY ASSURANCE COURSE MODULE

• Setting up and using the QA Editor (basics only)

GENIE-2000 ANALYZE TECHNIQUES AND OPTIONS

• Interactive peak fit

Additional Information

Duration: 4 days
Maximum 6 people, Minimum 4 people.
Language: English
Training manual included
Available equipment: 1 Genie-2000 computer per 2 participants + 1 complete detector system for hands-on and trouble shooting. Computers assumed available "on site"

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