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Determining The Detection System Efficiency And Background Signal At Fom 's Peak Value

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Figure of Merit (FOM) is a mathematical expression that accounts for detection efficiency and background noise, and is used to optimize system performance. The desire of this study is to maximize the detection system’s efficiency and minimize its background signal. The highest optimization potential occurs at FOM’s peak value. Finding the optimum counting region of interest is an iterative process and an important first step in the characterization of a detection system. A standard solution/sample’s FOM value is determined by first counting it and determining its efficiency and spillover. The detector electronics for most detection systems have multiple adjustable parameters (e.g. applied voltage, amplifier gain, low level discriminator), which are adjusted to eliminate electronic noise. These parameter optimizations are useful for reaching the optimum counting conditions. In equation 1, ε is the counting efficiency in percent and B is the radiation background count rate. Maximizing the FOM can optimize the conditions in achieving the highest efficiency for a given background. Figure of Merit (FOM) = ε^2/B (Eq. 1) The optimization is achieved by adjusting the operating voltage for a given discriminator setting and the discriminator setting for a given operating voltage to find the optimal balance [Pujol et al., 2000]. Reducing the operating voltage of the PMT can decrease the background count rate but may also reduce the counting efficiency. Calculating FOM with

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