INSTRUMENTATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, cilt.25, sa.4, ss.335-343, 1997 (SCI-Expanded)
The natural background activity of a Ge(Li) spectrometer was measured and background reduction was evaluated. Twenty lines were observed in the energy spectrum, extending from 20 to 1000 keV. Background reduction, achieved by shielding geometry improvements for low energy photon spectrometer, is presented. Continuum counting rate for 13% relative-efficiency Ge(Li) detector decreased from 4.9 c/min keV at 120 keV to less than 0.1 c/min keV at 900 keV in a 50 mm lead shield.