Calibration of a high-volume gamma-ray scintillation spectrometer in the high-energy range

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to calibrate a high-volume gamma-ray scintillation spectrometer in energy levels higher than those of natural radionuclides and common calibration standards. It is achieved by a method called neutron activation analysis, that utilizes slow and 14 MeV neutrons to bombard elements of H, C, N and O. These activated elements then dexcite with emission of gammarays with energies up to 11 MeV. The calibration on common standards allows us to only calibrate in the energy range below 3 MeV. The energy calibration in this range does not apply in the higher energy range as the calibration shifts with great deviations. Total of 36 measurements were performed to gather data on which the calibration would be carried out.