Scribd
Upload
107 views15 pages

Counting Statistics: Radiation Detect & Measure, Summer 2005 (RSM)

The document discusses various concepts in counting statistics, including: 1) Sources of error such as systematic errors, random errors, and blunders. 2) Measures of central tendency like the mean and median, and measures of variability like variance and standard deviation. 3) Statistical models for random trials including the binomial, Poisson, and Gaussian distributions which can be used to model radioactive decay and detection processes.

Uploaded by

shahab
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
107 views15 pages

Counting Statistics: Radiation Detect & Measure, Summer 2005 (RSM)

The document discusses various concepts in counting statistics, including: 1) Sources of error such as systematic errors, random errors, and blunders. 2) Measures of central tendency like the mean and median, and measures of variability like variance and standard deviation. 3) Statistical models for random trials including the binomial, Poisson, and Gaussian distributions which can be used to model radioactive decay and detection processes.

Uploaded by

shahab
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Counting Statistics

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Sources of Error
• Systematic errors
– Consistently get the same error
• Random errors
– Radiation emission and detection are
random processes
• Blunder
– operator error

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Measures of Central Tendency
• Mean
– Average value
• Median
– Middlemost measurement (or value)
– Less affected by outliers

Example: 8, 14, 5, 9, 12
Mean = 9.6
Median = 9

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Measures of Variability
• Variance
– Measure of variability:

• Standard deviation
– Square root of variance

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Statistical Models for random trials

• Binomial Distribution
• Poisson Distribution
– Simplification of binomial distribution with
certain constraints

• Gaussian or Normal Distribution


– Further simplification if average number of
successes is large (e.g., >20)

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Binomial process
• Trial can have only two outcomes

From: The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging (Bushberg, et al) Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)
Binomial probability density function
(PDF)

• N is total number of trials


• p is probability of success
• x is number of successes

From: The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging (Bushberg, et al) Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)
Binomial probability density function
mean and variance

• N is total number of trials


• p is probability of success
• x is mean, σ is standard deviation

If p is very small and a constant then:

Same as Poisson random process.


Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)
Poisson PDF
• Radioactive decay and detection are Poisson
random processes
– Observation time is short compared to the half-life of the
source
• probability of radioactive decays (i.e., p)remains constant
• probability of a given nucleus undergoing decay is small
• Variance
– Variance = mean = pN = x
• Standard deviation
– Standard deviation = √ variance = √ pN = √ x
• Can estimate standard deviation from a single
measurement
Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)
Confidence Intervals

Interval about measurement Probability that mean is within interval (%)


±0.674σ 50.0
±1.0σ 68.3
±1.64σ 90.0
±1.96σ 95.0
±2.58σ 99.0
±3.0σ 99.7
From: Radiation Detection and Measurement (Knoll, GF) Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)
Raphex Question

D70. How many counts must be collected in an instrument with zero background
to obtain an error limit of 1% with a confidence interval of 95%?

A. 1000
B. 3162
C. 10,000
D. 40,000
E. 100,000

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Raphex Answer

D70. How many counts must be collected in an instrument with zero background
to obtain an error limit of 1% with a confidence interval of 95%?

D. A 95% confidence interval means the counts must fall within t wo standard
deviations (SD) of the mean (N). Error limit = 1% = 2 SD/N, but SD = N1/2.
Thus 0.01 = 2(N1/2)/N = 2/ N1/2. Where [0.01]2 = 4/N and N = 40,000.

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Propagation of Error
Description Operation Standard
Deviation

Multiplication of a number with random cx cσ


error by a number without random error

Division of a number with random error x/c σ/c


by a number without random error

Addition of two numbers containing x 1 + x2 √ σ21 + σ22


random errors

Subtraction of two numbers containing x 1 - x2 √ σ21 + σ22


random errors

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Raphex question

G74. A radioactive sample is counted for 1 minute and produces 900 counts.
The background is counted for 10 minutes and produces 100 counts. The net
count rate and net standard deviation are about ____ and ____ counts.

A. 800, 28
B. 800, 30
C. 890, 28
D. 890, 30
E. 899, 30

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)


Raphex answer
G74. A radioactive sample is counted for 1 minute and produces 900 c ounts.
The background is cou nted for 10 minutes and p roduces 100 c ounts. The net
count rate and net standard deviation are about ____ and ____ counts/min.

D. The net count rate is:

[ ( Ns/ts) - (Nb/tb)] = [(900/1) - (100/10)] = 890.

The net standard deviation, is:

[ ( Ns/t2s) - (Nb/t2b)] 1/2 = [(900) + (1)] = 30.

Radiation Detect & Measure, summer 2005 ( RSM)

You might also like