Acquisition of quality γ-ray spectra with HPGe spectrometers

We propose practices to optimize the quality of acquired γ-ray spectra at a radioanalytical laboratory and to assist in the identification of extraneous spectral peaks including those from limitations in the physical setup, electronics, and counting conditions. This paper offers visible comparisons of high-quality spectra with those of inferior quality. We demonstrate the impacts on γ-ray spectra taken with germanium (HPGe) detectors due to detector size, shape and energy resolution, background radiation, high-energy β- or β+ decay in the sample, β--, β+- and γ-ray backscatter, pole-zero cancellation, pulse pileup, coincidence summing, and unwanted sources of radiation.