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A well-type HPGe detector model with the existence of a particular dead area in the HPGe crystal was developed for use in Monte Carlo simulation codes to better model gamma-ray efficiency characteristics. Dissimilarities of counting efficiencies between simulation and calibration were successfully minimized for the case of point and volume sources. Simulations using the resulting model are applicable to the activity measurement of samples both in the hole and on top of the endcap of the well-type HPGe detector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An example of uncertainty evaluation of an efficiency curve is reported. In the applied method, the efficiency curve is determined through the weighted least square method based on measured efficiencies employing a mixed-radionuclide standard source. The variance-covariance matrix of the efficiencies is determined by evaluating the uncertainties of the counting, the calibrated radioactivities, the correction factors for true coincidence summing, and the inadequacy of the fitting function. The proposed method can be a basis to develop a more general procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We developed a certified reference material of brown rice to measure radioactivity from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The rice was planted in the spring of 2011, just after the Fukushima accident occurred, and it was harvested in the autumn of 2011. The certified value of radioactivity concentration in the rice was 33.6Bqkg−1 of Cs-134 and 51.8Bqkg−1 of Cs-137 on August 1, 2012. The reference material is being widely distributed by the National Metrology Institute of Japan. To determine the radioactivity and its uncertainties in the brown rice, we employed gamma-ray spectrometry with a high-purity germanium detector and Monte Carlo simulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, we managed to carry out emergency measurements of the radioactive fallout. The included nuclides were identified via gamma-ray spectrometry using an HPGe detector. Quantifications of each radionuclide in the fallout were determined based on the efficiency calibrations and relevant corrections. The collected samples had a variety of shapes, densities, and compositions. EGS5 Monte Carlo code was used for the flexible estimation of these parameters. The measurement results show the temporal changes in the fallout quantity about a month after the accident. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The angular distribution of photon energy spectra emitted from an I-125 brachytherapy source was measured using a specially designed jig in the range of ±70° in the plane of the long axis of the source. It is important to investigate the angular dependence of photon emissions from these sources for the calibration of the air kerma rate. The results show that the influence of the distributions between 0° and ±8° is small enough to allow a calibration using current primary instruments which have a large entrance window. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The interlaboratory comparison that 148 laboratories participated was performed to understand the validity and variability of measurements with NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors for samples near the standard limit for radioactive cesium in general foods in Japan. Brown rice grains with certified massic activity of radioactive cesium were used as test samples. The medians of the reported massic activities of radioactive cesium, 134Cs, and 137Cs in brown rice grains agreed with the reference values. On the point of view for inspection, more than 92% of the reported values were within the acceptable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Calibrations of instrument efficiency of surface contamination meters are usually made with extended reference sources which are standardized in terms of 2π surface β-particle emission rates from the source surface including backscattered particles. Extended sources supplied from various metrology institutes or calibration laboratories, but the source-types such as structure, preparation method, backing and covering materials vary between manufacturers. In this work first we show how the calibration results are dependent on the source type. Second, in order to clarify the possible reason of such discrepancy, we examined the isotropy of β-particle fluences by the use of a proportional counter and also observed the angular dependence of β-particle spectra by the use of small plastic scintillation spectrometer, where the source mount can rotate relative to the detector window at various obliquities. The discrepancy in the instrument-calibration of surface contamination meters, which are mainly used under the conditions of large source-to-detector geometry, can be explained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) participated in the CCRI(II) Key-comparison of 85Kr activity measurement. The absolute internal gas-counting method was used, with a set of proportional counters of different length. The original 85Kr gas was diluted by a factor of 2×105 in order to achieve the suitable activity concentration for the proportional counters. A new dilution method was introduced, based on a large-volume balloon and gravimetric determination of the dilution volume with small uncertainties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]