Gamma-Ray Spectral Analysis Software Designed for Extreme Ease of Use or Unattended Operation

We are developing isotopic analysis software in the Safeguards Technology Program that advances usability in two complimentary directions. The first direction is towards Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for very easy to use applications. The second is toward a minimal user interface, but with additional features for unattended or fully automatic applications. We are developing a GUI-based spectral viewing engine that is currently running in the MS-Windows environment. We intend to use this core application to provide the common user interface for our data analysis, and subsequently data acquisition and instrument control applications. We are also investigating sets of cases where the MGAj methodology produces reduced accuracy results, incorrect errors, or incorrect results. We try to determine the root cause for the problem and extend the methodology or replace portions of the methodology so that MGA will function over a wider domain of analysis without requiring intervention and analysis by a spectroscopist. This effort is necessary for applications where such intervention is inconvenient or impractical.