title: A second-generation low-background gamma-ray spectrometer.
abstract: For the ultimate sensitivity in trace radiochemical analysis, the radiation detector must have high efficiency and low background. A low-background gamma-ray spectrometer in regular use at NIST for over twenty years is being supplemented by a new system, improved in several ways. The new detector is much larger, a shield of iron reduces cosmic neutron background compared with lead, large plastic scintillators reduce the muon continuum background, and a digital data acquisition system gives new opportunities for optimization.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8395, United States. Electronic address: Richard.Lindstrom@NIST.gov.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
keywords: Background reduction; Cosmic-ray muons; Cosmic-ray neutrons; Determination limit; Gamma-ray spectrometry; Germanium detector