Article

An anticoincidence-shielded gamma-ray spectrometer for analysis of low level environmental radionuclides.

Mokwon University, Doandong Seo-Ku, Daejon 302-729, South Korea.
Applied Radiation and Isotopes (impact factor: 1.17). 06/2003; 58(5):579-83. pp.579-83
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT We developed an ultralow-level background gamma-ray spectrometer, using active and passive shield devices at the same time. Cosmic-ray-induced background is suppressed by means of active shield devices consisting of plastic scintillating plates of 50mm thick and anti-coincidence electronic system. The observed background rate was 0.34 s(-1) (=0.12s(-1) per 100 cm(3) Ge volume) for energy regions between 50 and 3000 ke V. The detection efficiency curve for 10(3)ml Marinelli beaker samples is obtained over all the energy regions. The advantages of the method are demonstrated by measuring the activity of 137Cs in powdered milk sample prepared without taking any chemical procedure. The MDA for 137Cs is estimated to be (17+/-1.7)mBq at a confidence level of 95% and it is about a factor of 10 lower than the MDA obtained from the previous cryostat assembly with 10-cm thick lead shielding.

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Keywords

10(3)ml Marinelli beaker samples
 
active shield devices
 
anti-coincidence electronic system
 
chemical procedure
 
confidence level
 
detection efficiency curve
 
energy regions
 
MDA
 
observed background rate
 
passive shield devices
 
plastic scintillating plates
 
powdered milk sample
 
previous cryostat assembly
 
ultralow-level background gamma-ray spectrometer
 

Jong-In Byun