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Experimental characterization of alpha spectrometer for optimization of operational parameters affecting energy resolution and detection efficiency

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Abstract

The operational parameters of an alpha spectrometer equipped with a planar silicon semiconductor detector were characterized by measuring a mixed alpha source. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) decreased with increasing conversion gain (CG) and sample-to-detector distance (SDD) and was constant beyond an SDD of 21 mm. Although the FWHM was minimum at 4096 CG, peak-shape analysis showed that 1024 CG and 2048 CG are more appropriate than 4096 CG for alpha spectrum analysis. In practical measurement with SDD less than 5 mm, a sample thickness difference of 1 mm caused a relative error in detection efficiency of 11 %.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) R&D Program of the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea (521510-21).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, 62 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, 34142, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Jeonghyeon Ryu, Hyeon-Woo Lee & Jung-Seok Chae

  2. Environmental Radioactivity Assessment Team, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 989-111 Daedeok-daero, Yuseong-gu, 34057, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Ji-young Park & Hyuncheol Kim

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  1. Jeonghyeon Ryu
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Correspondence to Jung-Seok Chae.

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Ryu, J., Park, Jy., Lee, HW. et al. Experimental characterization of alpha spectrometer for optimization of operational parameters affecting energy resolution and detection efficiency. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 329, 959–967 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07821-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07821-w

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