Intelligent spectroscopy techniques for gamma rays with energies above 400 keV using 3-D position-sensitive detectors

The spatial information obtained using 3-D position-sensitive detectors can be used to improve the performance of gamma-ray spectroscopy systems. With the energy and position information available for each interaction in the detector signatures of multiple interactions can be recognized and used to reconstruct initial gamma-ray energies or eliminate partial-energy tracks. Unlike a traditional spectrometer, 3-D position-sensitive spectrometers make it possible to reject single interactions, suppress Compton continua, identify and reconstruct gamma-ray energies in sequences that begin with pair production, and reconstruct gamma-ray energies in sequences of three or more events that do not include pair production. We have previously presented simulation results of two algorithms that demonstrate the capabilities of intelligent spectroscopy at high energies (>1 MeV). In the current work, we add medium energy techniques and present spectroscopy results from both simulations and measurements using a 2.25-cm³ CdZnTe detector.