gamma-ray spectroscopy

Gamma-ray spectroscopy is a physics technique used to measure the precise energies of gamma-ray photons emitted by radioactive nuclei. These gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation produced during nuclear disintegrations or particle decay.1

The process involves detecting these gamma rays, often using semiconductor detectors made of materials like germanium. Germanium detectors are preferred for gamma-ray spectroscopy due to their high atomic number, which increases the probability of absorbing gamma rays and provides excellent energy resolution. By analyzing the energies of the emitted gamma rays, scientists can determine the energy-level structures of atomic nuclei and identify radioactive elements. This technique has applications in various fields, including medical imaging (like PET scans) and environmental monitoring.21