Gamma-ray spectroscopy

Gamma-ray spectroscopy identifies radionuclides and studies nuclear structure by measuring the energies and intensities of gamma rays emitted or absorbed by matter.

Gamma-ray detector: A device that detects gamma photons and converts their energy deposits into measurable signals. Its energy resolution determines how clearly neighboring gamma-ray lines appear.
Gamma ray: A high-energy photon emitted in nuclear transitions or other energetic processes. Gamma-ray spectroscopy measures these photons rather than the charged particles often emitted alongside them.
Gamma-ray spectrometry: The quantitative measurement of gamma-ray spectra, including peak areas and radionuclide activities. It emphasizes calibrated measurement and quantification, while spectroscopy also covers interpretation of nuclear structure.
Alpha spectroscopy: A method that identifies alpha-emitting radionuclides by measuring alpha-particle energies. Alpha particles are charged and short-ranged, unlike the penetrating photons measured here.
Gamma-ray spectrum: A distribution of detected gamma-ray counts across photon energies. Peaks in this distribution correspond to characteristic nuclear transitions.
Nuclear energy level: A quantized energy state of an atomic nucleus. Differences between nuclear levels set the energies of emitted gamma rays.
High-purity germanium detector: A semiconductor detector made from ultrapure germanium, valued for high gamma-ray energy resolution. It resolves closely spaced lines in environmental and laboratory samples.
Beta spectroscopy: A method that measures beta-particle energy distributions to study radioactive decay. Beta spectra are continuous, whereas nuclear gamma transitions produce discrete energy lines.
Photoelectric effect: An interaction in which a photon transfers its energy to an electron, ejecting it from an atom. Complete photon absorption can produce the full-energy peaks used for identification.
Nuclear isomer: An excited nuclear state with a measurable lifetime that is unusually long for a nuclear excitation. Isomeric states can produce delayed gamma-ray cascades.

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