Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3766-3874

Advisor

Crider, Benjamin P.

Committee Member

Dutta, Dipangkar

Committee Member

Winger, Jeff A.

Committee Member

Novotny, Mark A.

Committee Member

Waggoner, Charles A.

Date of Degree

8-13-2024

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Engineering (Applied Physics)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Abstract

This work describes the development of a Monte Carlo simulation toolkit built on the Geant4 framework for applied health physics applications. The toolkit is designed to construct complex radiation fields and measure how radiation detectors respond to those fields, specifically radiation fields expected to be encountered in environmental and safety applications. The toolkit, along with its development and validation, is described. The use of the toolkit for performing minimum detectable concentration evaluations is outlined, following methods described in the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) and Nuclear Regulatory Guidance Manual 1507, which detail Minimum Detectable Concentrations for Typical Radiation Surveys using Instruments for Various Contaminants and Field Conditions. Results and implications from the findings of these evaluations are also discussed. This work demonstrates the simulation toolkit’s ability to replicate real-world scenarios through simulation validation against real laboratory data before showcasing its use. Minimum detectable concentration evaluations completed with this toolkit are compared to commercially available software traditionally used for these evaluations when employing methods outlined in NUREG- 1507. The evaluations completed using simulations developed from this toolkit agree well with the commercially available software, except for sources with primary photon emissions below 100 keV, where the toolkit simulation shows a significant deviation. This work also underscores the importance for individuals using regulatory guidance manuals for performing minimum detectable concentration analysis to consider the motion of detectors and soil moisture content for sources with low-energy photon emissions. Furthermore, the toolkit demonstrates its effectiveness in developing Monte Carlo simulations that recreate radiation survey data for large open land areas.

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