SODIGAM Software

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SODIGAM is the only software available on the market for high precision analysis of spectra from scintillation detectors (e.g. NaI(Tl), LaBr₃(Ce), CeBr₃, BGO, SrI2, …) which uses physically correct description of background, baseline and peakshapes.

SODIGAM has many features that one normally finds only in programs for the quantitative high-precision analysis of HPGe spectra and thus it is the powerful equivalent to our high precision HPGe gamma-ray spectrum analysis package GAMMA-W, yet it is very simple to use.

Originally programmed to run under DOS, SODIGAM is now SODIGAM for Windows complete with new features for easy handling in the Windows environment; it has significantly improved algorithms but the same uniqueness as the original DOS version. The software is available in German, English and French versions.

SODIGAM is the only programme for NaI(Tl), LaBr₃(Ce), CeBr₃ or other scintillator spectrum analysis which takes physically correct peakshapes into consideration.

A NEW CONCEPT:
The capabilities of Gamma-W and Sodigam and ALPS in ONE software package. Call us.

SODIGAM-Highlights

SODIGAM: Software for high-precision analysis of spectra from scintillation detectors

Highlights of SODIGAM software:
SODIGAM, software for the high-precision analysis of gamma-ray spectra from scintillation detectors such as e.g. NaI(Tl), BGO, CsI, LaBr3 (BrilLanCe), CeBr3 or of X-ray spectra from Proportional Counters.

The WINDOWS program (32-bit and 64-bit) is available in english, german and french; languages are on-line switchable. SODIGAM can be linked to many emulation softwares (e.g. TARGET, ICX, Brightspec, Amptek DppMCA) for seamless handling and spectrum analysis during running measurement.

SODIGAM comes with an unlimited cost-free update service.

SODIGAM provides various analysis options for different applications:

Fully automatic spectrum analysis (overview mode)
User controlled analysis of peaks (hand analysis and educational mode)
Batch file operation without user intervention (automatic routine analysis mode)
Procedure mode analysis for selectable standard analysis procedures (lab production mode)

SODIGAM contains all options needed for quantitative spectrum analysis and nuclide assignment:

Selectable sensitivity in units of detection limits
FWHM function definition from measured peaks or from detector specifications
Intrinsic FWHM function for NaI(Tl), LaBr3 and CeBr3 spectra
Nonlinear energy calibration function
Efficiency via intrinsic function or polynomials (one to nine coefficients)
Consideration of external background interferences with uncertainties
Extensive master library with all nuclides having T1/2 over 10 seconds
Application libraries generated through excerpting
Library data can be edited (no warranty)
Decay correction (collection, transport, decay during measurement) and interference correction
Multiplet deconvolution with up to 28 peaks
Physical peak-shape description
Physical shape of baseline under peaks, background and other dependences
Fuzzy-logic applied for various tasks
Very stable LSQ-fit without matrix inversion

SODIGAM provides many I/O options:

Six levels of increasing printout length
Storage of all results in an ASCII protocol file, ready for editing to needs
Reads spectra from essentially all commercial MCAs
Writes spectra as ASCII files
Very detailed display of spectrum, baseline, fitted functions and sum-function
Detection limits, confidence limits etc. according to KTA 1503.1 and DIN/ISO 11929
Graphic images can be stored as Windows Meta File (spectrum and fits)
15 units for activity (e.g. Bq, Bq/kg, Bq/l, Bq/m3…)
Calculus window for calibration functions
Statistical calculations with uncertainties (Weighted mean, +, -, * and /)
Freely selectable colour scheme of graphics window
Five user levels with password protection (for industrial and routine analysis applications)
HARDLOCK software protection unit

SODIGAM comes with extensive documentation:

Manual describing all commands
Short manual for fast start-up
.PDF manual files on CD or USB-stick (Jump drive)
Unlimited cost-free update service
Telephone hotline service during daily working hours

For more information: info@Westmeier.com or phone +49 6424 923 000

Hardware working together with SODIGAM

In the following we present components of a scintillation spectrometer as an example. For detailled instructions or consultation contact us at info@westmeier.com, or by phone +49 (0)6424 923 000 or FAX +49 (0)6424 923 002.

3“x3“ NaI(Tl) detector with hermetically integrated photomultiplier and very strong (0.63 mm) µ-metal shield against external magnetic fields. The aluminium case around the front of the detector has a thickness of only 0.5 mm and the inner light reflector is a layer of Teflon. Depending on the application one may use different sizes, shapes or material for the detector (e.g. CeBr₃).

The right picture shows a bMCA plug-on multichannel analyzer containing 1500 V high-voltage generator, preamplifier, digital amplifier/shaper, 25 MHz flash-ADC for up to 4096 channel spectra, MCA and USB or Ethernet interface.
The MCA having 58 mm diameter is plugged onto the 14-pin socket of the photomultiplier and connected to the basic spectrometry unit (PC or notebook) via USB or Ethernet. The maximum length of USB cable is 8 meters. A laser printer is a recommended option for the spectrometer.
For more intricate experimental set-ups we recommend the AMPTEK TB5 plug-on multichannel analyzer.

In most applications the detector is shielded by a 50 mm thick lead castle against external background radiation (see example). The internal size of the shield must house all container sizes that shall be used for measurements, in most instances that is a 1-liter Marinelli beaker and 0.5- to 2-liter beakers. A Marinelli beaker provides the optimised measuring geometry in most cases when plenty sample material is available. When other geometries are employed one should select sample containers so that the diameter of the container does not exceed the diameter of the detector crystal, i.e. 76 mm diameter when measuring with a 3″x3″ crystal. The lead castle has an easy-going bolted cover of 50 mm thickness and it stands on an SS table for easy handling and filling. The total weight of such castle is around 360 kg, the height of the handling level is at 127 cm.
Small spectrometers such as food monitors may often employ a 2″x2″ detector in a smaller lead shield of 50 mm thickness with hand-lifted cover and suitable for a 0.5-liter Marinelli beaker.

Emulator-software for MCA and measurement
The same bMCA software is used to set up the analog and digital electronic of the multichannel analyzer, to make the measurement, to display the spectrum during accumulation and to store the spectrum when completed. Specific MCA hardware features are:

positive high voltage up to 1500 Volt, preamplifier, digital Amplifier/Shaper
25 MHz flash ADC with 4096-channel spectrum memory
USB or Ethernet interface

In addition to spectrum display and storage the software allows energy calibration and simple region analysis for overview and calibration purposes.

SODIGAM

Quantitative spectrum analysis is then made with the SODIGAM progam for high-precision analysis of scintillator spectra (NaI(Tl), LaBr₃(Ce), CeBr₃, CsI, CZT, BGO and others) as well as X-ray spectra from proportional counters. SODIGAM is a Windows® program designed to work together with all commercial multichannel analyzers. The program has filters for almost all commercial spectrum formats and thus can read and analyze spectra from almost all MCA. When you encounter a format that is unknown to SODIGAM, just send us a sample spectrum and the format description from your MCA manual – we will include your format at no extra cost.

In the following the two most important operation modes of SODIGAM are presented:

Screen-oriented manual handling is used for spectrum inspection, set-up of calibration functions, library handling and editing such as creation of application libraries, nuclide and gamma-ray lines editing, as well as for hand-controlled analyses of peaks and mutiplets. For hand-controlled analysis a region is defined and potential peak positions are marked. These starting values are then handed over to the analysis algorithms which improve user’s definitions and make the fits. All definitions are made with graphical control in the spectrum display image.
Screen-oriented handling serves mainly to get acquainted with the program, to understand the algorithms and to prepare for automatic batch analysis of spectra. The hand-controlled mode is well suitable for education and training as it shows many details in the image such as the spectrum in histogram or dot display, the baseline, individual fitted peak functions, sum function of baseline and peaks and numeric results (peak positions, energies, resolution, area, uncertainty, fit parameter). Repeated region analysis is possible for improvement of the fit.
In the automatic batch mode spectra are analyzed according to definitions in reference files. Definitions are made through CODEWORDs which constitute a very powerful yet simple meta-language of SODIGAM which is used to control operation of the program. For example, the CODEWORT „calc 500 800“ makes an automatic analysis of the spectrum from channel 500 to channel 800 and the CODEWORD
REGI 599.8 619.2 11
609.3
0
defines an analysis region from 599.8 keV to 619.2 keV with one tentative peak at 609.3 keV; the fit is then shown in the display.