Chapter 3: Coincidence and anti-coincidence gamma ray spectroscopy in radionuclide identification
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Published:08 Dec 2023
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Special Collection: 2023 ebook collection
S. Landsberger, C. Egozi, W. Charlton, N. Kaitschuck, and F. J. Martinez, in Environmental Radiochemical Analysis VII, ed. N. Evans, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023, vol. 357, ch. 3, pp. 28-42.
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The two most challenging aspects of gamma ray spectrometry are to achieve spectral free interferences and to attain the lowest possible detection limits and ultimately low counting uncertainties. In nuclear forensics isotopic ratios or elemental ratios in environmental analyses need to have the individual results at low uncertainties for meaningful interpretations. Over the last few decades gamma-gamma coincidence and anti-coincidence (Compton suppression) methods have been used for a variety of radionuclide identifications for passive counting of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), special nuclear materials (239Pu), fission products and neutron activation analysis (NAA) for environmental, geological, and biological samples. One real major advantage of these methods is that spectral interferences can be significantly reduced, as in the case of Compton suppression, or be eliminated as in gamma-gamma coincidence, while also reducing the Compton continuum and decreasing detection limits. An overview of these methods will be delineated with specific examples.