Deconvolution methods are of basic importance in
spectrometry using different measurement procedures such as the Bonner sphere spectrometer,
3He proportional counters, recoil proton proportional counters
or the scintillation sepctrometer.
Deconvolution is a mathematical method for the analysis of measurement data. Let us consider as an example the measurement values Ni of i spheres of different size of the Bonner sphere spectrometer. Each of these measurement values is obtained from the convolution of the response function Ri of the sphere (the response as a function of neutron energy) with the spectral fluence (upper figure). Deconvolution is the inversion of this process, i.e. the determination of the spectral fluence from the measurement values, the response functions as well as, if available, further information about the neutron field.
At the PTB, numerous deconvolution methods and programs have been developed for neutron spectrometry. Several methods have been compiled in the HEPRO program system. This contains, among other things, the programs SAND-II, STAY'SL, MIEKE, DIFBAS and UNFANA. In addition, the MAXED program has been modified so that it is compatible with the data formats of the HEPRO system. Further details about the different mathematical approaches can be found
here.
Literature:
M. Matzke: Unfolding of Particle Spectra, International Conference: Neutrons in Research and Industry, Crete, Greece, 1996, G. Vourvopoulos, Editor, Proc. SPIE 2867 (1997), pp 598-607, ISBN 0-8194-2263-0.
M. Reginatto, P. Goldhagen and Sonja Neumann: Spectrum unfolding, sensitivity analysis and propagation of uncertainties with the maximum entropy deconvolution code MAXED, Beitrag "International Workshop on Neutron Field Spectrometry in Science, Technology and Radiation Protection", 5.-8. Juni 2000; Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A 476, (2002) 242-246.
Contact
Dr. Marcel Reginatto
Phone: +49 (0) 531-592-6521
e-mail: Marcel.Reginatto@ptb.de
