Gamma-Ray Spectrometry with a Ge Detector: Problems of "Conventional" Energy Calibration Method

Abstract

  Problems of "conventional" energy calibration method for photon spectrometry with a germanium detector is described. Event analysis in a detection system has yielded an "instrument function" (which is the key component of a peak-shape function). The centroid of a normal distribution folded in the instrument function, instead of the position of the peak maximum (the peak position), is the intrinsic position corresponding to the reference energy. An energy (measured at the peak position of a Ge(Li) detector) of ¹H(n,γ)-2224 keV is 1.3 keV smaller than that of the reference energy (2224.58900 ± 0.00022 keV).