A coincident γ-γ and γ-X-ray decay database for spectroscopy applications

Current fieldable γ and X-ray spectroscopy techniques often use single detector systems. The sensitivity of single detectors is heavily reduced by partial energy deposition Compton interactions and overlapping interferences from intense background radiation fields. These effects reduce confidence in the accuracy and interpretation of the measured spectra. Coincidence techniques drastically improve the fidelity and confidence of in-field measurements providing precise isotopic identification and reduced background. Hitherto, however, no comprehensive database exists containing the coincident γ-γ and γ-X-ray data necessary to perform isotopic quantification. We have developed software to parse all decay datasets from the ENSDF archive to enable translation into a JSON format that is more suitable for modern computational technologies. Approximately 3200 decay datasets have been translated and, from all those datasets containing γ-ray information, we have deduced the corresponding set of γ-γ and γ-X-ray energies and intensities on an absolute scale for all coincidence pairs [1]. Furthermore, our database also permits query-based manipulation of the information in the original ENSDF-decay datasets. An overview of the database and software developed to interact with the new JSON schema will be presented.