Decomposition of prompt gamma-ray spectra including the Doppler-broadened peak for boron determination

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 411; no. 1; pp. 130 - 136
• Main Authors: Magara, M, Yonezawa, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.1998
• Subjects: Boron; Doppler-broadened peak; Neutron guided beams; Nonlinear least-squares method; Prompt γ-ray peak; Quantitative analysis; Spectral interference; γ-ray measurement; Neutron guided beams; 23; Boron; γ-ray measurement; 06; Prompt γ-ray peak; Spectral interference; Doppler-broadened peak; Nonlinear least-squares method; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9002(98)00303-9

In prompt γ-ray measurements following slow-neutron capture, the Doppler-broadened 478 keV peak resulting from capture in boron was deliberately overlapped with prompt γ-rays of similar energies resulting from capture in sodium, cobalt, and nickel. A peak decomposition method was developed in which the broadened line shape was represented by an integral of the Gaussian function and the spectrum in the 455–490 keV region was decomposed into a broad peak and interfering normal peaks by using a nonlinear least-squares procedure. The accuracy and detection limits of the current method for boron determination were confirmed by comparing the analytical results with those obtained by the reference line method and with boron amounts known during sample preparation by direct weighing and aliquoting.