• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.53-63
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• 2019

Background: As neutron fields are always accompanied by gamma rays, it is essential to distinguish neutrons from gamma rays in the detection of neutrons. Neutrons and gamma rays can be separated by pulse shape discrimination (PSD) methods. Recently, we performed characterization of a stilbene scintillator detector and an EJ-301 liquid scintillator detector with a high-speed digitizer DT5730 and investigated optimized PSD variables for both detectors. This study is for providing a basis for developing fast neutron/gamma-ray dual-particle imager. Materials and Methods: We conducted PSD experiments using stilbene scintillator and EJ-301 liquid scintillator and evaluated neutron and gamma ray discriminability of each PSD method with a $^{137}Cs$ gamma source and a $^{252}Cf$ neutron source. We implemented digital signal processing techniques to apply two PSD methods - the charge comparison (CC) method and the constant time discrimination (CTD) method - to distinguish neutrons from gamma rays. We tried to find optimized PSD variables giving the best discriminability in a given experimental condition. Results and Discussion: For the stilbene scintillator detector, the charge comparison method and the constant time discrimination method both delivered the PSD FOM values of 1.7. For the EJ-301 liquid scintillator detector, both PSD methods delivered the PSD FOM values of 1.79. With the same PSD variables, PSD performance was excellent in $300{\pm}100keVee$, $500{\pm}100keVee$, and $700{\pm}100keVee$ energy regions. This result shows that we can achieve an effective discrimination of neutrons from gamma rays using these scintillator detector systems. Conclusion: We applied both PSD methods to a stilbene and a liquid scintillator and optimized the PSD performance represented by FOM values. We observed a good separation performance of both scintillators combined with a high-speed digitizer and digital PSD. These results will provide reference values for the dual-particle imager we are developing, which can image both fast neutrons and gamma rays simultaneously.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.226-231
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• 2017

The aim is to investigate the spectra responsibilities of QD (Quantum Dot) for the innovation of new dosimetry application for therapeutic Megavoltage X-ray range. The unique electrical and optical properties of QD are expected to make it a good sensing material for dosimeter. This study shows the spectra responsibility of toluene based ZnCd QD and PPO (2.5-diphenyloxazol) mixed liquid scintillator. The QDs of 4 sizes corresponding to an emission wavelength (ZnCdSe/ZnS:$440{\pm}5nm$, ZnCdSeS:470, 500, $570{\pm}5nm$) were utilized. A liquid scintillator for control sample was made of toluene, PPO. The Composition of QD loaded scintillators are about 99 wt% Toluene as solvent, 1 wt% of PPO as primary scintillator and 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 wt% of QDs as solute. For the spectra responsibility of QD scintillation, they were irradiated for 30 second with 6 MV beam from a LINAC ($Infinity^{TM}$, Elekta). With the guidance of 1.0 mm core diameter optical fiber, scintillation spectrums were measured by a compact CCD spectrometer which could measure 200~1,000 nm wavelength range (CCS200, Thorlabs). We measured the spectra responsibilities of QD loaded organic liquid scintillators in two scintillation mechanisms. First was the direct transfer and second was using wave shifter. The emission peaks from the direct transfer were measured to be much smaller luminescent intensity than based on the wavelength shift from the PPO to QDs. The emission peak was shifted from PPO emission wavelength 380 nm to each emission wavelength of loaded QD. In both mechanisms, 500 nm QD loaded samples were observed to radiate in the highest luminescence intensity. We observed the spectra responsibility of QD doped toluene based liquid scintillator in order to innovate QD dosimetry applicator. The liquid scintillator loading 0.2 wt% of 500 nm emission wavelength QD has most superior responsibility at 6 MV photon beam. In this study we observed the spectra responsibilities for therapeutic X-ray range. It would be the first step of innovating new radiation dosimetric methods for radiation treatment.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.1045-1051
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• 2023

In this study, we fabricated a liquid light-guide-based radiation sensor with a LaBr₃:Ce scintillator for remote gamma-ray spectroscopy. We acquired the energy spectra of Cs-137 and Co-60 using the proposed sensor, estimated the energy resolutions of the full energy peaks, and compared the scintillation light output variations. The major peaks of the radionuclides were observed in each result, and the estimated energy resolutions were similar to that of a general NaI(Tl) scintillation detector without a liquid light guide. Moreover, we showed the relationships of energy resolution and analog-to-digital channel regarding the number of photoelectrons produced and confirmed the effects of light guide length on remote gamma-ray spectroscopy. The proposed sensor is expected to be utilized to perform remote gamma-ray spectroscopy for distances of 3 m or more and would find application in many fields of nuclear facilities and industry.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권11호
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• pp.4057-4065
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• 2023

Organic scintillators are widely used for neutron/gamma detection. Pulse shape discrimination algorithms have been commonly used to discriminate the detected radiations. These algorithms have several limits, in particular with plastic scintillator which has lower discrimination ability, compared to liquid scintillator. Recently, machine learning (ML) models have been explored to enhance discrimination performance. Nevertheless, obtaining an accurate ML model or evaluating any discrimination approach requires a reference neutron dataset. The preparation of this is challenging because neutron sources are also gamma-ray emitters. Therefore, this paper proposes a pipeline to prepare clean labeled neutron/gamma datasets acquired by an organic scintillator. The method is mainly based on a Time of Flight setup and Tail-to-Total integral ratio (TTT_ratio) discrimination algorithm. In the presented case, EJ276 plastic scintillator and ²⁵²Cf source were used to implement the acquisition chain. The results showed that this process can identify and remove mislabeled samples in the entire ToF spectrum, including those that contribute to peak values. Furthermore, the process cleans ToF dataset from pile-up events, which can significantly impact experimental results and the conclusions extracted from them.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.111-117
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• 1979

Time of flight Technique를 사용한 coincidence spectrometer에 의해 액체 형광물질(liquid scintillator) NE213의 전자와 양자에 대한 빛 방출량을 측정하였다. 이 실험에서 양자에너지 (3.2Mev, 4Mev, 5Mev, 6Mev)는 2Mev에서 9Mev에 이르는 여러 에너지 분포를 갖고 있는 Am.Be 중성자원을 사용하여 중성자 탄성산란의 각도(45$^{\circ}$ and 60$^{\circ}$)와 측정기간의 거리를 조절하므로서 얻었다. NE213액체발광물질의 빛 방출량은 전자 에너지에 대해 선형적인 응답을 보였으며 양자에 대한 응답은 에너지 증가에 따라 비선형적이었다. 빛의 세기도 전자에 의한 응답이 양자에 의한 것보다 약 세배 가랑 컸다. 본 실험결과는 Batchelor et at 이 발표한 실험결과와 거의 비슷했다.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.847-856
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• 2019

오늘날 경제의 발전과 함께 여러 가지 환경 문제가 발생했다. 자연스레 사람들은 환경에 대한 관심이 높아졌으며 특히 식수에 대한 안전성과 오염도 조사에 대한 중요성이 부각되고 있다. 우리나라 국민들이 식수로 이용하는 지하수에서 우라늄 및 ²²²Rn 이 다수 지역에서 검출되고 있다. 따라서 이 연구는 지하수 내포함된 ²²²Rn 농도를 측정하는데 보다 정확한 측정을 위한 방법을 알아보고자 한다. 실험은 알파, 베타 펄스의 분석이 용이한 펄스파형분석 기능을 가진 저 준위 액체섬광계수기를 이용하여 실험하였다. 지하수 시료와 혼합하는 섬광체의 조제, 유효기간은 시간이 지날수록 검출값은 낮아지고, 에너지 스펙트럼도 낮은 쪽으로 channel 이동이 있었다. 섬광체의 구입시기가 오래 될수록, 개봉한 후 방치시간이 지날수록 검출값이 낮아짐을 확인했다. 사용목적이 다른 섬광체를 사용했을 경우 channel 이동으로 에너지를 확인할 수 있다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권12호
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• pp.4067-4071
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• 2021

The ¹³C (α,n)¹⁶O reaction cross-section is important data for nuclear physics, astrophysical, and neutrino physics experiments, however, they exhibit uncertainties due to the discrepancies in the experimental data. In this study, using the Nedis-2m program code, the energy spectrum of α-induced neutrons in a thin carbon target was calculated and the corresponding reaction cross-section was refined in the alpha particle energy range of 5-8 MeV. The results were used to calculate the intensity and energy spectrum of background neutrons produced in the liquid scintillator of KamLAND. The results will be useful in a variety of astrophysical and neutrino experiments especially those based on LS or Gd-LS detectors.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.621-626
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• 2017

본 논문에서는 방사선치료 시 용적 선량 평가에 응용할 수 있는 광 도시메트리 시스템을 구축하고 100 MeV 고선속 양성자 빔에 대한 특성 평가를 수행하였다. 광 도시메트리 시스템은 액체 유기 섬광체와 카메라 렌즈, 고감도 저잡음 화상(complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor; CMOS) 카메라로 구성되며, 2 m 거리에 영상의 화각(field of view; FOV)이 15 cm가 되도록 설계 및 제작하였다. 구축된 광 도시메트리 시스템은 100 MeV 양성자 빔에 대하여 1~40 Gy 선량 범위에서 선량-출력의 직선성을 확인하였으며, 심부선량백분율 데이터와 등선량 곡선을 획득하였다. 본 연구에서는 용매의 인체조직등가성에 제한점이 있지만 광 도시메트리 절차를 확립하였으며, 새로운 용적 선량 평가법의 제안으로 그 의미가 있다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.173-182
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• 2003

베타선 방출 핵종 측정을 위한 프로토 타입(prototype) 액체섬광검출기를 개발하고 이의 특성을 분석하였다. 액체섬광계수시스템의 신호처리부는 2개의 광전자증배관(photomultiplier tube, PMT)과 동시 계수 회로를 이용하여 구성하였다. 제작한 프로토 타입 시스템의 특성 분석을 위하여 4종류의 베타 핵종 $(^3H,\;^{14}C,\;^{36}Cl,\;^{90}Sr)$에 대한 샘플을 조제하여 베타 스펙트럼을 측정하였다. 차폐체를 전혀 사용하지 않은 상태에서 측정한 4종류의 핵종에 대한 베타 스펙트럼을 구하고, 최소 검출 한계를 계산한 다음, 법적 규제치 및 계산된 검출한계와 비교하였다. 이들 대부분의 선원들은 수분이내의 측정으로 배수중 방사선물질에 대한 법적 규제치 이하로 충분히 검출 가능함을 확인하였다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.51-53
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• 2002

The results of the measured specific activities of Rn-222 in sewerage and drinking water of Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia using the HP-Ge gamma-spectrometer, solid state nuclear track detector and liquid scintillator, are compared. The specific radioactivity for the Rn-222 in water of Ulaanbaatar City ranged 10-250 Bk/l, with an average of 110 Bk/l.