Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Research on the optimization method for PGNAA system design based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio evaluation

  • Li, JiaTong (School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University) ;
  • Jia, WenBao (Institute of Nuclear Analytical Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics) ;
  • Hei, DaQian (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University) ;
  • Yao, Zeen (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University) ;
  • Cheng, Can (Institute of Nuclear Analytical Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
  • Received : 2021.09.14
  • Accepted : 2021.12.26
  • Published : 2022.06.25
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Abstract

In this research, for improving the measurement performance of Prompt Gamma-ray Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) set-up, a new optimization method for set-up design was proposed and investigated. At first, the calculation method for Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) was proposed. Since the SNR could be calculated and quantified accurately, the SNR was chosen as the evaluation parameter in the new optimization method. For discussing the feasibility of the SNR optimization method, two kinds of PGNAA set-ups were designed in the MCNP code, based on the SNR optimization method and the previous signal optimization method, respectively. Meanwhile, the single element spectra analysis method was proposed, and the analysis effect of single element spectra as well as element sensitivity were used for comparing the measurement performance. Since the simulation results showed the better measurement performance of set-up designed by SNR optimization method, the experimental set-ups were built for the further testing, finally demonstrating the feasibility of the SNR optimization method for PGNAA setup design.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was a project funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (11975121, 11775113 and 12105143) and National Safety Academic Fund (U1930125).

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