Ultra Sensitive Measurements of Gamma-ray Emitting Radionuclides using HPGe-detectors in the Underground Laboratory HADES

The measurement capacity of the HADES underground laboratory was recently increased with a fourth detector. A new ultra low-background HPGe-detector with a relative efficiency of 106 % and a sub-micron deadlayer has been installed in a specially designed lead and copper shield. The background count rate in the energy interval 40-2700 keV is 790 d-1. The detector is employed in a wide range of measurements. Details of the detector will be presented together with examples of applications such as the high sensitivity impurity measurements of two solutions. The first solution container 204Tl and was used in primary standardisation. In this solution, 137Cs, 40K, 134Cs 228Th, 226Ra and 60Co were detected at mBq/g levels. The second solution was a 41Ca-solutions, which was to be employed by a consortium aiming at studying osteoporosis. Impurities of 133Ba, 137Cs, 60Co, 40K and 138La were detected also at mBq/g levls.

HULT Mikael;  GASPARRO Joël;  JOHANSSON Lena;  JOHNSTON P.N.;  VASSELLI Roberto; 

2010-02-12

Royal Society of Chemistry

JRC55124

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC55124,