Method and system for calibrating gamma radiation flux levels in a solid state gamma radiation detection system
First Claim
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1. A method for calibrating a drive level of a non-radioactive calibration source, comprising:
- measuring a response of a radiation detector to background radiation, wherein the background radiation has a known, stable level, the known, stable level of background radiation being known through a field measurement or relative check;
measuring a response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus a radiation reference, wherein the radiation reference is a radiation source with known properties located at a specific distance from the radiation detector to provide a known reference dose rate above the background radiation;
measuring a response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source; and
adjusting the drive level of the non-radioactive calibration source until the response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source substantially matches the response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the radiation reference.
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Abstract
One aspect of the present disclosure comprises a method for calibrating a drive level of a non-radioactive calibration source. Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a method for using a non-radioactive calibration source to verify correct operation of a radiation detector. Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a radiation detection system that comprises a radiation detector and a non-radioactive calibration source that is used to verify correct operation of the radiation detector.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating a drive level of a non-radioactive calibration source, comprising:
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measuring a response of a radiation detector to background radiation, wherein the background radiation has a known, stable level, the known, stable level of background radiation being known through a field measurement or relative check; measuring a response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus a radiation reference, wherein the radiation reference is a radiation source with known properties located at a specific distance from the radiation detector to provide a known reference dose rate above the background radiation; measuring a response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source; and adjusting the drive level of the non-radioactive calibration source until the response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source substantially matches the response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the radiation reference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for verifying calibration of a radiation detector, comprising:
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measuring a response of the radiation detector to background radiation; driving a non-radioactive calibration source to a drive level that is specified in verification data, the verification data being determined during calibration of the non-radioactive calibration source, wherein calibration of the non-radioactive calibration source comprises adjusting a calibration drive level of the non-radioactive calibration source until a response of the radiation detector to a calibration background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source substantially matches a response of the radiation detector to the calibration background radiation plus a radiation reference, wherein the calibration background radiation has a known, stable level, the known, stable level of background radiation being known through a field measurement or relative check, and wherein the radiation reference is a radiation source with known properties located at a specific distance from the radiation detector to provide a known reference dose rate above the calibration background radiation; measuring a response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source; and determining whether the radiation detector is calibrated based on the verification data and the response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A radiation detection system, comprising:
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a radiation detector; a non-radioactive calibration source, wherein the radiation detector and the non-radioactive calibration source are positioned such that photons emitted from the non-radioactive calibration source are detected by the radiation detector; memory for storing verification data, wherein verification data comprises a drive level of the non-radioactive calibration source determined by adjusting the drive level of the non-radioactive calibration source until a response of the radiation detector to a background radiation plus the non-radioactive calibration source substantially matches a response of the radiation detector to the background radiation plus a radiation reference, wherein the background radiation has a known, stable level, the known, stable level of background radiation being known through a field measurement or relative check, and wherein the radiation reference is a radiation source with known properties located at a specific distance from the radiation detector to provide a known reference dose rate above the background radiation; and a light shield that shields the radiation detector from outside light sources. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification