Abstract
The aim of the experiment is to learn about the basic techniques of gamma ray energy spectroscopy and the interpretation of a spectrum, using a NaI(TI) detector. We obtained the spectra of two gamma sources using a spectrometer and the Maestro program. We also computed the energy resolution of the spectrometer and the absolute activity of a gamma emitter using different methods. Radioactive nuclei decay into other particles: α-decay, β-decay, and γ-decay, where α particles are 4He nuclei, β particles are electrons or positrons, and γ particles are photons. Here we will study γ-rays decay. It occurs when the nucleus is too high in energy, so it goes to a lower energy state and emits a gamma particle, that is to say a photon. The number of protons and neutrons stay the same, on the other hand α and β decay. γ rays can easily penetrate most materials, that's why they are so dangerous to manipulate. However, they can easily be emitted from the source and be detected.
