Optimization of a data acquisition and control system for calibration of X rays detectors with usage of computational tools

The Brazilian standard ABNT ISO/IEC 17025/2005 specifies general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration facilities. One of these requirements states that these facilities must always optimize their processes and thus, uncertainties must be estimated and lowered as much as possible. In order to achieve such goal, the Laboratorio de Calibracao de Instrumentos (LCI), a laboratory responsible for dosimeter calibration at the Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN/CNEN) have acquired some equipment for the LCI's X-Ray calibration system, such as a rotating filter holder, and it has also been developing software in order to provide the best calibration results with lowest external interferences (from the operator, for instance) to diminish the possibilities of error occurrences. A semi-automated LabVIEW-based calibration software has been developed at LCI and it has been subjected to constant testing and improvements so far. The software is divided in two basic modules: one is responsible for calibration of the monitor chamber with a reference standard dosimeter, while the other is used to perform instruments calibrations using the monitor chamber as reference. Several influence quantities have been analyzed and the proper corrections have been added to the software as multiplicative correction factors. The software is not only able to acquire data from all the equipment used in the laboratory, but also it is able to calculate calibration factors and its uncertainties. A later analysis shows how this system has optimized the whole calibration process, lowering the occupational dose, reducing the mean time of calibration, uncertainties and preventing errors caused by the system's users. (author)