Identification of shielded sources using a CZT detector and an unmanned ground vehicle

This work is dedicated to ability of a coplanar cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector to identify lost/orphan radioactive sources hidden inside soil layers. Considering point-like sources placed in soil and the CZT detector fixed on an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), relevant measurement geometries were proposed. Full-energy peak efficiency (FEPE) calibrations of the CZT detector were prepared using the MCNP6.1 radiation transport code. In order to check the simulation set-up, control measurements were performed and compared with the Monte Carlo simulations.