Relative Gama-Ray Intensity Measurements Using a Lithium-Drifted Germanium Detector

Abstract

This method is as accurate as any other now existing. N can be determined to within 2% with good statistics and reasonable care. One limit is the memory size of the multichannel analyzer. The greater the capacity of the individual word, the better the statistics can become. Also, experience has verified that a greater number of channels provide a more accurate curve fit because of the greater number of points. Obviously, the calibrated sources should be of comparable accuracy, but so far 6% estimated errors are the best available. Thus, the difficulty is that some other method must be used to provide the calibrated sources. The bent-crystal method of Brown offers great possibilities, as error estimates of 2% are possible.