Bias in segmented gamma scans arising from size differences between calibration standards and assay samples

Recent advances in segmented gamma scanning have emphasized software corrections for gamma-ray self-absorption in particulates or lumps of special nuclear material in the sample. Another feature of this software is an attenuation correction factor formalism that explicitly accounts for differences in sample container size and composition between the calibration standards and the individual items being measured. Software without this container-size correction produces biases when the unknowns are not packaged in the same containers as the calibration standards. This new software allows the use of different size and composition containers for standards and unknowns, an enormous savings considering the expense of multiple calibration standard sets otherwise needed. This report presents calculations of the bias resulting from not using this new formalism. The calculations may be used to estimate bias corrections for segmented gamma scanners that do not incorporate these advanced concepts. This paper describes this attenuation-correction-factor formalism in more detail and illustrates the magnitude of the biases that may arise if it is not used. 5 refs., 7 figs