Gamma Spectroscopy in the NUCS Core Facility

Gamma spectroscopy is the identification and/or quantification of radionuclides by analysis of the gamma-ray energy spectrum produced in a gamma-ray spectrometer. The NUCS Core Facility is equipped with four HPGe (High-Purity germanium) gamma spectrometers (two 35% efficiency, one 50% efficiency, and one 95% efficiency detectors).

These gamma spectrometers are calibrated daily and are capable of measuring samples that exhibit radioactivity between 20 mCi and 1 nCi. Data collection typically takes between 5 minutes and several hours, depending on the activity of the gamma source. The gamma spectrometers are calibrated to handle point, vial, and Marinelli sources.