Development of a Bayesian linear regression model for the detection of a weak radiological source from gamma spectra measurements

The detection of radiation requires the use of statistical tools due to the probabilistic nature of the emission and the interaction properties of radiation. Frequentist statistical methods are traditionally employed towards this end – the most common being the "traditional" method which calculates a decision threshold above which a source is determined to be present. The decision threshold is calculated from a predetermined false positive rate (typically 5%) and is used as a decision parameter. The decision parameter is a statistical tool by which it is determined whether or not a source other than background is present. In radiological conditions where a source is both improbable and weak, and where counting time is limited, the detection of a source becomes progressively more challenging using this traditional method. The detection of clandestine fissile materials presents such a challenge, and with the increasing risk of nuclear proliferation, there exists a growing motivation to research more optimal methods of detection, especially where a missed detection is of such high consequence. Previous research has been conducted on using a Bayesian model to develop a decision parameter for weak source detection. The use of a Bayesian model has been shown in laboratory settings to outperform the traditional frequentist method. However, the model tested was designed for gross counts only. In the present study, a Bayesian algorithm is being developed and tested that uses the entirety of the gamma spectrum. Specifically, several Bayesian linear regressions are developed and tested which compared different energy ranges in the spectrum. The parameters generated from these linear regressions are tested for their efficacy as decision parameters. With the additional information presented from the entire spectrum, it is theoretically possible that even further improvements in the detection of a weak source can be achieved. The results of this research have shown that regressor coefficients via a Bayesian method are effective as decision parameters. The best results, however, were shown only to match the efficacy of the more traditional, frequentist method of detection.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Authors dc:creator

• Meengs, Matthew, author
• Brandl, Alexander, advisor
• Johnson, Thomas E., committee member
• Sudowe, Ralf, committee member
• Kokoszka, Piotr, committee member

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.02372

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/234291