Data acquisition and analysis software for gamma coincidence spectrometry

Abstract

Coincidence counting in neutron activation analysis has well-known advantages, most importantly improvement of detection limits. One obstacle to the wider use of this technique is the complexity of the data acquisition and reduction systems that it requires. The usual approaches to multi-detector data acquisition incur significant dead-time, involve redundant work in repeatedly developing limited tools and risk potential errors in low-level code. The paper describes progress made in developing a software framework to address these shortcomings.

On neutron activation analysis with γγ coincidence spectrometry

“…The novel NIST software qpx - gamma [14] controls the data recording and provides a graphical user interface (GUI) between the Pixie-4 features and the real-time output of the live acquisition of data [15]. Depending on the parameters of the spectra requested prior to acquisition, individual gamma events are clustered into coincident blocks, tested against the defined coincidence requirements, and binned to the respective spectra in near-real time.…”