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Updated: May 10, 2026
06:28
Visualization of Low-Level Gamma Radiation Sources Using a Low-Cost, High-Sensitivity, Omnidirectional Compton Camera
Published on: January 30, 2020
A new versatile underground gamma-ray spectrometry system
Guillaume Lutter1, Mikael Hult, Gerd Marissens
1European Commission, DG JRC, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium. guillaume.lutter@ec.europa.eu
Summary
A new versatile lead-copper shield at IRMM
Area of Science:
- Nuclear analytical chemistry
- Radiation detection and measurement
Background:
- Underground analytical facilities require advanced shielding for sensitive measurements.
- Minimizing background radiation is crucial for accurate radionuclide detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a novel lead-copper shield for versatile detector use.
- To evaluate the background performance of the shield with different detector setups.
- To demonstrate the shield's utility for optimizing detection limits.
Main Methods:
- Construction and implementation of a large lead shield lined with copper.
- Testing four distinct detector configurations, including High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) and Sodium Iodide (NaI) detectors.
- Assessment of background radiation levels across different configurations.
Main Results:
- The lead-copper shield demonstrates versatile compatibility with multiple detector types.
- Low background performance was maintained across all tested detector configurations.
- The shield facilitates efficient detector swapping while preserving low background conditions.
Conclusions:
- The developed shield is a valuable asset for underground analytical facilities.
- Its versatility supports detector testing for diverse experiments.
- It enables optimized detection limits for specific radionuclides in various research projects.
Keywords:
Compton suppressionHPGe-detectorLow-level gamma-ray spectrometryShieldingUnderground laboratoryMore Related Videos
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