Gamma-ray detection with a 4π NaI spectrometer for material analysis

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 1997-12, Vol.132 (4), p.671-684
• Main Authors: Mehrhoff, M, Aliotta, M, Baumvol, I.J.R, Becker, H.-W, Berheide, M, Borucki, L, Domke, J, Gorris, F, Kubsky, S, Piel, N, Roters, G, Rolfs, C, Schulte, W.H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-583X(97)00483-7

A γ-ray detection system with nearly 4π geometry for applications in materials science is described. The energy resolution of the NaI(Tl)-bore hole detector was found to be about 2% for 10 MeV γ-rays. The total detection efficiency has been determined to be above 80% for γ-energies between 0.5 and 20 MeV. A precision of the efficiency calibration of about 2% has been obtained for a wide range of γ-energies. The experimental results were found to be in excellent agreement with computer simulations using the GEANT computer code. The high efficiency of the system combined with its relatively high energy resolution opened a wide range of applications. Examples are the simultaneous detection of light isotopes in thin films by (d,pγ) nuclear reactions, high depth resolution profiling of isotopes by narrow, low-energy resonances in (p,γ) reactions, and hydrogen profiling using the 6.4 MeV resonance in the 1H(15N,αγ)12C reaction.