Low-background counting using Ge(Li) detectors with anti-muon-shields

Gerhard Anton Müller; Frank Wissmann; F. Schröder; G. Mondry; H. J. Brinkmann; Friedrich Smend; Martin Schumacher; P. Fettweis; R. Carchon

doi:10.1016/0168-9002(90)90432-6

Low-background counting using Ge(Li) detectors with anti-muon-shields

Gerhard Anton Müller, Frank Wissmann, F. Schröder, G. Mondry, H. J. Brinkmann, Friedrich Smend, Martin Schumacher, P. Fettweis, R. Carchon

Research output › peer-review

Abstract

Low-intensity photon counting experiments carried out in the energy range between 8 and 20 MeV using Ge(Li) detectors revealed a strong background due to cosmic muons. By using a lead shield to suppress photons and a five-sided 5 cm thick plastic shield to suppress muons, a background reduction of 99.5% was achieved. GEANT computer simulations are carried out to study properties of cosmic muon spectra in different Ge and Si detectors. A comparison of measured and simulated spectra leads to very good agreement. Background reduction by an annular NaI detector is studied in the anticoincidence and pair-spectrometer modes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	133-139
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, A
Volume	295
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(90)90432-6
State	Published - 1 Oct 1990

Funding

The search for very rare nuclear events, such as high-energy gamma-ray scattering asks for a detection system having the lowest possible limit of detection. This latter depends mainly on its background, e.g. on the signal observed in absence of the event to be detected. It is thus important to keep the backgrounds as low as achievable. Quantitative relations between the lower limit of detection L D for the useful signal S and the background B measured together with S have been discussed by Currie [1]. In particular photon scattering experiments using neutron capture -y-rays and Ge or Ge(Li) detectors require low-intensity photon counting in an environment characterized by a strong neutron background, which will induce n-capture -y-rays in the construction materials (Fe etc .) and in air, having energies of up to 10.5 MeV (N) . It is thus important to use particularly * Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through contract Schu 222 . * * Present address: Institut für Kernphysik der Universität Mainz, Mainz, FRG . Present address : Siemens AG, Zentralbereich und Technik, D-8520 Erlangen, FRG . Present address : Canberra Semiconductors merdries 25, B-2430 Olen, Belgium .

Funders	Funder number
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft	Schu 222

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Instrumentation

Access to Document

10.1016/0168-9002(90)90432-6

Cite this

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title = "Low-background counting using Ge(Li) detectors with anti-muon-shields",

abstract = "Low-intensity photon counting experiments carried out in the energy range between 8 and 20 MeV using Ge(Li) detectors revealed a strong background due to cosmic muons. By using a lead shield to suppress photons and a five-sided 5 cm thick plastic shield to suppress muons, a background reduction of 99.5% was achieved. GEANT computer simulations are carried out to study properties of cosmic muon spectra in different Ge and Si detectors. A comparison of measured and simulated spectra leads to very good agreement. Background reduction by an annular NaI detector is studied in the anticoincidence and pair-spectrometer modes.",

author = "M{\"u}ller, {Gerhard Anton} and Frank Wissmann and F. Schr{\"o}der and G. Mondry and Brinkmann, {H. J.} and Friedrich Smend and Martin Schumacher and P. Fettweis and R. Carchon",

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T1 - Low-background counting using Ge(Li) detectors with anti-muon-shields

AU - Müller, Gerhard Anton

AU - Wissmann, Frank

AU - Schröder, F.

AU - Mondry, G.

AU - Brinkmann, H. J.

AU - Smend, Friedrich

AU - Schumacher, Martin

AU - Fettweis, P.

AU - Carchon, R.

PY - 1990/10/1

Y1 - 1990/10/1

N2 - Low-intensity photon counting experiments carried out in the energy range between 8 and 20 MeV using Ge(Li) detectors revealed a strong background due to cosmic muons. By using a lead shield to suppress photons and a five-sided 5 cm thick plastic shield to suppress muons, a background reduction of 99.5% was achieved. GEANT computer simulations are carried out to study properties of cosmic muon spectra in different Ge and Si detectors. A comparison of measured and simulated spectra leads to very good agreement. Background reduction by an annular NaI detector is studied in the anticoincidence and pair-spectrometer modes.

AB - Low-intensity photon counting experiments carried out in the energy range between 8 and 20 MeV using Ge(Li) detectors revealed a strong background due to cosmic muons. By using a lead shield to suppress photons and a five-sided 5 cm thick plastic shield to suppress muons, a background reduction of 99.5% was achieved. GEANT computer simulations are carried out to study properties of cosmic muon spectra in different Ge and Si detectors. A comparison of measured and simulated spectra leads to very good agreement. Background reduction by an annular NaI detector is studied in the anticoincidence and pair-spectrometer modes.

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