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Low-level single and coincidence gamma-ray spectrometry

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Abstract

Analyses of anthropogenic and natural gamma-ray emitters in the environment require high sensitive detector systems operating in coincidence-anticoincidence modes. Thanks to an excellent energy resolution and a high efficiency, large volume HPGe detectors have been widely used in low-level gamma-ray spectrometry. In the present paper we discuss the characteristics of single and coincidence (HPGe-NaI(Tl)) arrangements suitable for analysis of environmental samples containing cascade gamma-ray emitters (e.g., 60Co), positron emitters (e.g., 22Na) and single gamma-ray emitters (e.g., 137Cs). The detectors were placed in a large volume shields consisting of iron, lead and copper layers. The reduction of background for the single gamma-ray spectrometer is between 60 and 250, depending on the gamma-ray energy. As an improvement of the apparatus, low detection limits for analysis of 137Cs (0.3 Bq·kg−1) and 60Co (0.1 Bq·kg−1) in environmental samples, respectively, have been obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Mlynska dolina F1, SK-842 48, Bratislava, Slovakia

    I. Sýkora, M. Ješkovský, R. Janik, K. Holý, M. Chudý & P. P. Povinec

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  1. I. Sýkora
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  2. M. Ješkovský
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  3. R. Janik
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  4. K. Holý
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  5. M. Chudý
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  6. P. P. Povinec
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Correspondence to P. P. Povinec.

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Sýkora, I., Ješkovský, M., Janik, R. et al. Low-level single and coincidence gamma-ray spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 276, 779–787 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-008-0632-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-008-0632-8

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