Efficiency Calibration of a HPGe Detector and Environmental Samples Measurement of Self-Absorption Correction Factors

Gamma spectroscopy was performed on Marinelli beaker standards containing soil with different densities of ρ = 1 to 1.5 gr cm-3 upon using a HPGe detector. The spectra were analyzed by a specific software and then the efficiency vs. energy was calculated for each sample. The calculated efficiencies for different densities were compared with the efficiency of the reference sample, and the self-absorption correction factors were calculated for soil samples in the range of 59-1408 keV energy. The obtained correction factors were applied successfully for the calculation of the activity of an unknown sample.