Title :
A portable gamma-ray spectrometer using compressed xenon
Author :
Mabler, G.J. ; Yu, B. ; Smith, G.C. ; Kane, W.R. ; Lemley, J.R.
Author_Institution :
Brookhaven Nat. Lab., Upton, NY, USA
Abstract :
An ionization chamber using compressed xenon has been designed and built for gamma-ray spectrometry. The device is based on signal measurement from a parallel plate detector, with the gas enclosure constructed specifically for packaging into a portable instrument; thus, appropriate engineering practices using ASME codes have been followed. The portable system comprises two small containers that can be setup for operation in just a few minutes. Its sensitivity is 100 keV to over 1 MeV, with a resolution at 662 keV of 2.5% FWHM for uniform irradiation, and 2% FWHM for collimated irradiation, comparable to the best ever with compressed xenon. It also exhibits greater specificity than most scintillators, such as NaI. The device is insensitive to neutron damage and has a low power requirement
Keywords :
gamma-ray spectrometers; ionisation chambers; portable instruments; 100 keV to 1 MeV; ASME codes; Xe; compressed Xe; gamma-ray spectrometer; gamma-ray spectrometry; neutron irradiation; parallel plate detector; resolution; sensitivity; Energy resolution; Extraterrestrial measurements; Gamma ray detection; Gamma ray detectors; Geophysical measurements; Germanium; Instruments; Ionization chambers; Spectroscopy; Xenon;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium, 1997. IEEE
Conference_Location :
Albuquerque, NM
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-4258-5
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.1997.672696
