0000000000041052
AUTHOR
M. C. Spitale
A low-level spectrometer with a planar low-energy HPGe: shielding arrangement tests and system performance for 210Pb determination in air filter samples
A system for low-energy photon spectrometry using a planar germanium detector with appropriate specifications is presented. A spectrometric background investigation has been carried out with various detector shielding arrangements. The characteristics of the system for measurements of 210Pb in air-particulate matter on filters have been determined.
Study of background characteristics of a low-level HPGe spectrometer with passive shielding in various configurations
Abstract A low-background germanium spectrometer has been investigated with different combinations of shielding materials in two locations at ground level. In particular, seven shielding configurations have been tested in a room with thick walls and ceiling. The background components, peaks and continuum in the 50–2600 keV energy region, obtained in the several experimental conditions are reported and discussed.
CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENTS OF 7Be AT GROUND LEVEL AIR AT PALERMO, ITALY- COMPARISON WITH SOLAR ACTIVITY OVER A PERIOD OF 21 YEARS
Air activity concentrations of (7)Be in Palermo determined for the period January 1995-December 2002 by gamma-ray spectrometric analysis of particulate samples collected on paper filter by a high-volume sampler (approximately 900 m(3) h(-1)) are reported. The temporal behaviour of (7)Be concentration presents the same characteristics already observed in the measurements carried out over the previous 13-year (1982-1994) investigated period. The mean value of 5.06 mBq m(-3) obtained from the analysis of the 4636 particulate samples collected from 1982 to 2002 can be considered a representative value of (7)Be air concentration at ground level in our geographical zone. The comparison of long-te…
Search for Neutrons as Evidence of Cold Fusion
In this paper investigations performed at the University of Palermo in an attempt to reproduce the cold fusion experiment are reported. The search was devoted to detecting neutron emission from palladium electrodes electrolytically charged with deuterium. In no test was neutron emission significantly over the background observed, either in bursts or continuous. Results of a few tests are reported. For the more sensitive test, an upper limit for D(d,n) cold fusion (at 98% confidence level) of {lambda}{sub f} {lt} 3.6 {times} 10{sup {minus}24} fusion/s {center dot} d-d pair is determined.
Determination of 210Pb concentration in the air at ground-level by gamma-ray spectrometry
Abstract 210 Pb activity concentrations in the air of Palermo were determined by γ-ray spectrometric analysis of 323 particulate samples collected in the period September 1995–December 1996. For each sample, the air filtered through a cellulose filter paper was 8600 m 3 on average. The values of the daily activity concentration of 210 Pb were ranging from 136 to 3390 μBq/m 3 .