Calculations of radiation effects on γ ray scintillation detectors

Induced radioactivity has long been known to be the major factor in performance degradation of spaceborne gamma-ray detectors, such as those to be flown on the planned Gamma Ray Observatory mission, and hence accurate calculations of this induced activity are required for the execution of a successful mission. However, the different methods used for the estimation of these effects have given divergent answers depending on the assumptions made. An approach based on Monte Carlo simulation of the atomic and nuclear interactions of these energetic radiations is outlined, which incorporates the best current understanding of the composition, angular and energy dependence of these radiations, and of their interactions in complex, many-material geometries