title: Recent developments in ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry at IRMM
abstract: IRMM performs ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry in the underground laboratory HADES, located at the SCK-CEN site in Mol, Belgium. Recently a third low-background coaxial HPGe detector was put into operation. The detector has 60% relative efficiency and better background characteristics than the two previous detectors: The shield comprises 14 cm of lead with 21OPb specific activity of 20 Bq kg(-1) and 14 cm of freshly produced electrolytic copper. The background count rate integrated from 40 to 2700 keV is 394 +/- 2 counts per day. Details of the background and the shield are presented together with applications to nuclear safeguards and material selection.
authors.affiliation: EC-JRC-IRMM, Geel, Belgium. hult@irmm.jrc.be
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hult
authors.lastname: Martinez Canet MJ
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.lastname: das Neves J
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Johnston