{"id":1102,"date":"2020-03-12T10:43:54","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T14:43:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/?page_id=1102"},"modified":"2020-03-18T14:59:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T18:59:01","slug":"gamma-ray-spectroscopy-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/npl-home\/spectroscopy\/gamma-ray-spectroscopy\/gamma-ray-spectroscopy-education\/","title":{"rendered":"HPGe Gamma Ray Spectroscopy Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Author: Tim<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tim has been teaching a course on HPGe based gamma spectroscopy for over ten years now.  These are excerpts from his lectures to guide folks through the overall HPGe system basics.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2252\" height=\"1530\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1103\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/1.png 2252w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-768x522.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-1536x1044.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-2048x1391.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-397x270.png 397w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2252px) 100vw, 2252px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Outline of topics this instruction will cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/12.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1008\" height=\"1342\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1113\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/12.png 1008w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/12-768x1022.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/12-203x270.png 203w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>An un-shielded HPGe with &#8220;vertical dip-stick&#8221; sitting in liquid nitrogen reservoir within a 30 liter dewar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1750\" height=\"1766\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1104\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2.png 1750w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2-768x775.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2-1522x1536.png 1522w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2-268x270.png 268w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1750px) 100vw, 1750px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Cross section of the above system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2204\" height=\"1498\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1105\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/4.png 2204w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-768x522.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1536x1044.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-2048x1392.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-397x270.png 397w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2204px) 100vw, 2204px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Right-angle horizontal looking &#8220;dip-stick&#8221; exploded view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2502\" height=\"1658\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1114\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/3.png 2502w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/3-768x509.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/3-1536x1018.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/3-2048x1357.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/3-407x270.png 407w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2502px) 100vw, 2502px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Frost building up from detector freshly pulled out of liquid nitrogen reservoir.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2058\" height=\"1538\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1106\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/5.png 2058w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-768x574.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1536x1148.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2048x1531.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-361x270.png 361w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2058px) 100vw, 2058px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Block diagram of electronic&#8217;s setup for spectroscopy system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1884\" height=\"1276\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1107\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/6.png 1884w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-768x520.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1536x1040.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-399x270.png 399w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1884px) 100vw, 1884px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Amplifier chain up to the point of entering the MCA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/7.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2530\" height=\"1324\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/7.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1108\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/7.png 2530w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-768x402.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-1536x804.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-2048x1072.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/7-516x270.png 516w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2530px) 100vw, 2530px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The NIM crate, with detector&#8217;s HV bias supply and spectroscopy amplifier, USB based MCA, and data acquisition laptop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/8.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2260\" height=\"1588\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1109\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/8.png 2260w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-768x540.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1536x1079.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-2048x1439.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-384x270.png 384w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2260px) 100vw, 2260px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Collected spectrum of sample with known lines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/9.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1784\" height=\"1414\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/9.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1110\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/9.png 1784w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/9-768x609.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/9-1536x1217.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/9-341x270.png 341w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1784px) 100vw, 1784px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Linear fit to scatter plot of gamma energy vs MCA channel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/11.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"936\" height=\"878\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1111\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/11.png 936w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/11-768x720.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/11-288x270.png 288w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>&#8220;Unknown&#8221; sample, a rock collected from Petaca NM.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/10.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2640\" height=\"1068\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/10.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1112\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/10.png 2640w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-768x311.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-1536x621.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-2048x829.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-604x244.png 604w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2640px) 100vw, 2640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>&#8220;Unknown&#8217;s&#8221; spectra &#8211; which the gamma ray catalog identifies as thorium ore. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/13.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1414\" height=\"1168\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/13.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1115\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/13.png 1414w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/13-768x634.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/13-327x270.png 327w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1414px) 100vw, 1414px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>This is a 1-hour acquisition without any shielding around the detector.  Many lines are seen, demonstrating our radioactive world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/14.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"938\" height=\"1140\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/14.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1116\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/14.png 938w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/14-768x933.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/14-222x270.png 222w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 938px) 100vw, 938px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Here the detector is almost entirely encapsulated in a shield, but left with the lid open. Again a 1 hour count.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/15.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1428\" height=\"1176\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/15.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1117\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/15.png 1428w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/15-768x632.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/15-328x270.png 328w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1428px) 100vw, 1428px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Here the detector is almost entirely encapsulated in a shield, but left with the lid open. Again a 1 hour count.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/16.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1056\" height=\"1252\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/16.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1118\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/16.png 1056w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/16-768x911.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/16-228x270.png 228w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1056px) 100vw, 1056px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Finally, a 1 hour count with the fully shielded detector.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/17.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1418\" height=\"1150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/17.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1119\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/17.png 1418w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/17-768x623.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/17-333x270.png 333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1418px) 100vw, 1418px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Finally, a 1 hour count with the fully shielded detector.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/18.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2360\" height=\"1826\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/18.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1120\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/18.png 2360w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/18-768x594.png 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/18-1536x1188.png 1536w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/18-2048x1585.png 2048w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/18-349x270.png 349w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2360px) 100vw, 2360px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Compilation of the three spectra.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stability_analysis.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stability_analysis.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1121\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stability_analysis.jpg 960w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stability_analysis-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stability_analysis-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>This is a demonstration of a sequence of 5 minute counts, following the centroid of energy peak immediately after turning on the NIM crate, hence spectroscopy amplifier, bias supply, etc.  Also plotted is the same data 24 hours later after the electronics have thermally stabilized.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Author: Tim Tim has been teaching a course on HPGe based gamma spectroscopy for over ten years now. These are excerpts from his lectures to guide folks through the overall HPGe system basics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1383,"parent":25,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced-sidebar-menu\/link-title":"","advanced-sidebar-menu\/exclude-page":false},"categories":[5,51,3,37],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1102"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1102"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2155,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1102\/revisions\/2155"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nuclearphysicslab.com\/npl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}