Analysis of basic true coincidence summing correction models for laboratorial applications

Abstract The true coincidence summing phenomenon (TCS) significantly influences calculations based on gamma spectrometric measurements. In this paper, we examine simple correction models reported in the literature to adjust net peak areas affected by TCS, avoiding the complexity of advanced mathematical and computational approaches. The objective of this work is to provide a straightforward and cost-effective correction methodology suitable for routine applications, particularly in laboratories with limited resources or without access to specialized commercial software. The comparative analyses showed that these simplified mathematical models yield consistent results within the expected error range, whereas calculations performed using the EFFTRAN/MEFFTRAN software occasionally produce outliers. This inconsistency can likely be attributed to their inaccuracy in efficiency calculations derived from the input geometry in these programs. Overall, the evaluated simplified models show good accuracy and accordance for correcting TCS effects in basic laboratory gamma spectrometric measurements.