Measuring Radiation from Source and Background using a HPGe Detector*

The purpose of this experiment, conducted in Wigner Research Centre for Physics with the lead of Dr. Molnar Denes and Dr. Barnafoldi Gergely, is to detect and study the energy spectra of gamma-ray sources resulting from nuclear decay of atoms using gamma-ray spectroscopy. Detailed analysis of the emission of gamma-rays measured by a gamma-ray spectroscopy detector result in a gamma-ray energy spectrum that can provide answers to why there has been a noticeable annual effect in decay rate detected in measurements in previous research. The research uses a high purity germanium detector to collect data, the measured spectra of gamma-rays emitted by the source during gamma decay allows detailed analysis of the behavior of Energy peaks. Fine data collected by the HPGe detector requires the elimination of decays of certain elements present in the air at the time of measurement, also referred to as background. Studying and collecting data of the environmental factors that may be the source of the effect in the noticed deviation allows correlations to be made with the Energy peaks detected using the HPGe, providing one possible explanation to the deviation in decay rates detected.