GAMMA SPECTROSCOPYRadiation DetectorsThe multichannel pulse heightFigure 28 Multichannel Analyzer Outputanalyzer is a device that willseparate pulses based on pulseheight. Each energy range ofpulse height is referred to as achannel. The pulse height isproportional to the energy lost bya gamma ray. Separation of thepulses, based on pulse height,shows the energy spectrum of thegamma rays that are emitted.Multichannel analyzers typicallyhave 100 or 200 channels over anenergy range of 0 to 2 MeV. Theoutput is a plot of pulse height andgamma activity, as shown inFigure 28. By analyzing thespectrum of gamma rays emitted,the user can determine theelements which caused the gammapulses.SummaryThe operation of a gamma spectrometer is summarized below.Gamma Spectrometer SummaryA gamma spectrometer uses a scintillation counter, normally NaI.A multichannel analyzer separates the pulses based on pulse height.Since each radioactive material emits gammas of certain energy levels, eachpulse height corresponds to a different type of atom.IC-06 Page 50 Rev. 0
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