Search results for "gamma ray spectrometry"
showing 10 items of 11 documents
An experimental search for a correlation between outdoor 222Rn concentration and 210Pb activity in air particulate samples
2018
This work was aimed to search for a correlation between outdoor 222Rn air concentration and 210Pb activity in particulate samples collected on a filter. The existence of a correlation could support the hypothesis that both 222Rn and its long-lived product 210Pb are embedded into the same air masses and undergo the same air transport phenomena. Lead-210 activity was determined by means of gamma ray spectrometric measurement carried out a few days after the sampling whereas 222Rn concentration was measured through a commercial monitor. Experimental tests allowed to obtain a weak correlation between 222Rn and 210Pb air concentration as a preliminary result due to high uncertainties of outdoor …
Comparison of gamma-ray coincidence and low-background gamma-ray singles spectrometry
2011
Aerosol samples have been studied under different background conditions using gamma-ray coincidence and low-background gamma-ray singles spectrometric techniques with High-Purity Germanium detectors. Conventional low-background gamma-ray singles counting is a competitive technique when compared to the gamma-gamma coincidence approach in elevated background conditions. However, measurement of gamma-gamma coincidences can clearly make the identification of different nuclides more reliable and efficient than using singles spectrometry alone. The optimum solution would be a low-background counting station capable of both singles and gamma-gamma coincidence spectrometry.
A radiometric and petrographic interpretation of discrepancies on uranium content in samples collected at Alte Madonie Mounts region (Sicily, Italy)
2013
Abstract The main goal of this work is to evaluate a correlation between anomalous Uranium (U) content and petrographic features of some soil and rock samples collected at Alte Madonie Mounts region (North-central Sicily, Italy). A total of 41 samples of selected soils and rocks were collected, powdered, dried and sealed in “Marinelli” beakers for 20 days before the measurement to ensure that radioactive equilibrium between 226 Ra and 214 Bi was reached. Gamma-ray spectrometric analysis was used to quantify radioactivity concentrations. Mineralogical and chemical features of the samples were determined by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflection-Four…
Coincidence-summing correction equations in gamma-ray spectrometry with p-type HPGe detectors
2011
Abstract Equations to compute γ−γ and γ−X K coincidence-summing corrections in gamma-ray spectrometry with p-type HPGe detectors are reported. For point sources only full-energy-peak and total efficiencies are needed.
Equivalent detector models for the simulation of efficiency response of an HPGe detector with PENELOPE code
2019
In this work, some ‘equivalent’ models for the simulation of efficiency response of a High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector, installed inside a ‘low background’ bunker in the Engineering Department of the University of Palermo, were developed. The main feature was to attribute the uncertainties of the model to only one of the parameters, the dead layer of the detector, keeping unchanged the other data provided by the manufacturer. With this technique, using the Monte Carlo PENELOPE code in the 2011 version, the efficiency response was evaluated and compared with the previous one performed with MCNP5 code. The validation of equivalent models is performed by comparing the simulation results w…
Low-level gamma-ray spectrometry for analysing fusion plasma conditions
2008
Abstract A new method, combining activation by neutrons and charged particles with ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry, aimed at obtaining a better understanding and more adequate measurements of MeV particle leaks in magnetic fusion devices was studied here. A total of 36 samples containing Ti, LiF, B 4 C and W were placed in a boron-nitride holder mounted on the ceiling of the JET Tokamak. The samples were activated by 63 pulses from a D– 3 He plasma and were later measured using underground gamma-ray spectrometry. The radionuclides 7 Be, 46 Sc, 54 Mn, 56 Co, 57 Co, 58 Co, 124 Sb, 181 Hf, 182 Ta, 181 W and 185 W were detected in several of the samples, with very low levels of activity …
Material screening and selection for XENON100
2011
Results of the extensive radioactivity screening campaign to identify materials for the construction of XENON100 are reported. This Dark Matter search experiment is operated underground at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), Italy. Several ultra sensitive High Purity Germanium detectors (HPGe) have been used for gamma ray spectrometry. Mass spectrometry has been applied for a few low mass plastic samples. Detailed tables with the radioactive contaminations of all screened samples are presented, together with the implications for XENON100.
Virtual point detector: Application to coincidence-summing correction in gamma-ray spectrometry
2009
The use of an efficiency transfer method based on the virtual point detector approximation to evaluate coincidence-summing correction values for point and volume sources was examined. The method was validated by means of a comparison with experimental efficiency determinations.
Determination of macro, micro nutrient and trace element concentrations in Indian medicinal and vegetable leaves using instrumental neutron activatio…
1999
Abstract Leafy samples often used as medicine in the Indian Ayurvedic system and vegetables were analyzed for 20 elements (As, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Cr, Cs, Co, Eu, Fe, K, La, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Th, Zn) by employing Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The samples were irradiated at the 100 kW TRIGA-MAINZ nuclear reactor and the induced activities were counted by gamma ray spectrometry using an efficiency calibrated high resolution High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The concentration of the elements in the medicinal and vegetable leaves and their biological effects on human beings are discussed.
An experimental approach to efficiency calibration for gamma-ray spectrometric analysis of large air particulate filters
2013
Abstract A full-energy-peak efficiency (FEPE) calibration procedure for gamma-ray spectrometric analysis of air particulate samples collected on large filters is described herein. The experimental results are obtained for an unconventional measurement geometry, termed a “packet-sample”. The sample is obtained from a large cellulose filter (45 cm×45 cm) used to collect air particulate samples that is resized to dimensions suitable for spectrometric measurements (6 cm×6 cm×0.7 cm). To determine the FEPEs, many standards were created, i.e., some filters containing a small amount of ThO 2 and others containing a known amount of KCl. Efficiency curves obtained through best fits to experimental d…