OxGamma

Features:

• Quick and easy to perform the initial energy and efficiency calibration of a portable gamma-ray spectrometer using appropriate standards (U, Th, K & background). The user can opt to apply a baseline correction (exponential or linear) and multiple field spectra can be processed.

• The MATLAB application is compatible with Windows and macOS and is able to process data from common file types (e.g. .cnf or .chn) associated with two of the main nuclear instrument manufacturers (i.e Mirion/Canberra and Ametec/EG&G Ortec). Alternatively, the spectral data can be imported as an ASCII text file (i.e .txt).

• The application utilises an effective algorithm to correct for drift in the recorded field spectra which is often caused by changes in the environmental conditions (e.g. temperature).

• The relevant calibration results are saved for reference.

• To calculate the external gamma dose rate, the user can choose between different conversion factors.

• It enables to determine the concentrations of radioisotopes (K, U and Th) using the windows method or to calculate gamma dose-rates using the threshold approach.

Limitations:

• Currently only available to use with the four doped concrete calibration blocks housed at the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford and Na(I) probe.

• Resulting dose rate measurements are not corrected for water content and assume an infinite matrix geometry.

• Standard uncertainty values have been considered for error calculation.