Analysis of the influence of germanium dead layer on detector calibration simulation for environmental radioactive samples using the Monte Carlo method

Germanium crystals have a dead layer that causes a decrease in efficiency, since the layer is not useful for detection, but strongly attenuates photons. The thickness of this inactive layer is not well known due to the existence of a transition zone where photons are increasingly absorbed. Therefore, using data provided by manufacturers in the detector simulation model, some strong discrepancies appear between calculated and measured efficiencies. The Monte Carlo method is applied to simulate the calibration of a HP Ge detector in order to determine the total inactive germanium layer thickness and the active volume that are needed in order to obtain the minimum discrepancy between estimated and experimental efficiency. Calculations and measurements were performed for all of the radionuclides included in a standard calibration gamma cocktail solution. A Marinelli beaker was considered for this analysis, as it is one of the most commonly used sample container for environmental radioactivity measurements. Results indicated that a good agreement between calculated and measured efficiencies is obtained using a value for the inactive germanium layer thickness equal to approximately twice the value provided by the detector manufacturer. For all energy peaks included in the calibration, the best agreement with experimental efficiency was found using a combination of a small thickness of the inactive germanium layer and a small detection active volume.