Monte Carlo Determination of Full Energy Peak Efficiency for HPGe Detector and Self-Absorption Correction of Environmental Samples

The Monte Carlo method was used to determine full energy efficiency of a high-purity germanium (HPGe) coaxial detector within an energy range of 53.2-2614 keV. Also, measurement was carried out for a standard Marinelli beaker of 600cm3, which was placed into the reference material of mixed gamma. The plot of the experimentally derived efficiency versus the incident gamma radiation energy showed variations at certain energies which is attributed to the detector’s characteristics. The results obtained by the Monte Carlo method and those of the experimental measurements resulted in a standard deviation of 2.3 to 7%. The method was also applied to determine self-absorption correction of the environmental radioactive materials which gave rise to a deviation of 3–12%.