Gamma-ray detectors

Abstract

The common methods of analyzing gamma-ray spectra obtained from detectors capable of energy discrimination are discussed. Gamma-ray spectra generally are in the form of detector response versus discrete channel number. The methods considered for gamma-ray spectroscopy are somewhat general and can be applied to other types of spectroscopy. The general objective of spectroscopy is to obtain, at a minimum, the qualitative identification of the source (e.g., source energies or nuclides present). However, most spectroscopy applications seek quantitative information also, as expressed by, e.g., the source strength or the nuclide concentration. Various different methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis are summarized, and an illustrative example is provided. A review of detectors used for gamma-ray spectroscopy is included.