Assessment of calibration parameters for an aerial gamma spectrometry system using Monte-Carlo technique

During a radiation emergency subsequent to a nuclear accident or weapon fallout, quick assessment of the ground contamination and the resulting exposure is of prime importance in planning and execution of effective counter measures. For an online assessment of ground contamination, it is essential to calibrate the detector system for several parameters viz. the source energy, source deployment matrix, the flight altitude and position above the contaminated surface. This article discusses the methodology to predict all the necessary parameters like photon fluence at various altitudes, the photo-peak counts in different energy windows, Air to Ground Correlation Factors IAGCF) and the dose rate at any height due to air scattered gamma ray photons. The methodology includes generation of theoretically simulated gamma spectra at a required detector position for a given source distribution on the ground using Monte-Carlo method provided by general purpose coupled neutron/photon transport code (MCNP CCC-200). Thus generated gamma spectra are analyzed to arrive at the required parameters mentioned above.