OpenGamma
Posted: 14 Jan 2018, 02:52
OpenGamma is an open source spectrum analyser that I downloaded a while back (https://sourceforge.net/projects/opengamma/).
Documentation is very limited but it seems to do normal spectrum analysis functions (peak analysis, identification, quantification) and can open the usual formats (Ortec standard .chn, Canberras .cnf and IEC standard).
It seems fairly intuitive to use (the usual conventions for software of this type) but to do useful things you need to work with it.
Calibration (for both energy calibration and efficiency) is going to require you to edit the libraries as the ones included wont be of much use to a hobbyist (the isotopes listed wont be available to most). But a library could be populated easily with Cs-137, Ra-226 plus daughters and K-40 and Am-241 which gives a useful spectrum for energy calibration. As I imagine for hobbyist use, efficiency calibration would be tricky given the difficulty and expense in getting hold of calibrated isotope sources but if you were willing to accept a 10% uncertainty or something, it could be done.
Once energy calibration and efficiency calibration information is available, the software seems to do the usual stuff. The libraries are text files and easily edited or amended.
Attached are two spectra I had from a 2x2 inch NaI (1024 channels), one is an old Ra-226 source and the other is a Am-241, C0-60, Cs-137 source I had. The latter I thought I could use to efficiency calibrate the detector as I knew the activities but I couldn't get the calibrations to work - a manual would be handy I guess.
Unless they supplement the thing with a proper manual, Fitzpeaks is probably the better option. But its nice to see free open source programmes being available.
Lars
Documentation is very limited but it seems to do normal spectrum analysis functions (peak analysis, identification, quantification) and can open the usual formats (Ortec standard .chn, Canberras .cnf and IEC standard).
It seems fairly intuitive to use (the usual conventions for software of this type) but to do useful things you need to work with it.
Calibration (for both energy calibration and efficiency) is going to require you to edit the libraries as the ones included wont be of much use to a hobbyist (the isotopes listed wont be available to most). But a library could be populated easily with Cs-137, Ra-226 plus daughters and K-40 and Am-241 which gives a useful spectrum for energy calibration. As I imagine for hobbyist use, efficiency calibration would be tricky given the difficulty and expense in getting hold of calibrated isotope sources but if you were willing to accept a 10% uncertainty or something, it could be done.
Once energy calibration and efficiency calibration information is available, the software seems to do the usual stuff. The libraries are text files and easily edited or amended.
Attached are two spectra I had from a 2x2 inch NaI (1024 channels), one is an old Ra-226 source and the other is a Am-241, C0-60, Cs-137 source I had. The latter I thought I could use to efficiency calibrate the detector as I knew the activities but I couldn't get the calibrations to work - a manual would be handy I guess.
Unless they supplement the thing with a proper manual, Fitzpeaks is probably the better option. But its nice to see free open source programmes being available.
Lars