The correct and incorrect way to calibrate a Compton suppression counting system for gamma-ray efficiency

Gamma-ray efficiency calculations for a germanium detector have been made for a Compton suppression system. Results have shown that for radionuclides that have gamma rays in coincidence the photopeaks can be severely depressed leading to erroneous results. While this can be overcome in routine neutron activation analysis using a comparator method, special consideration must be given to determine the suppression for coincident gamma rays when calculating the efficiency curve and for radionuclide activities. This is especially important for users of the k ₀ method and for fission product identification using Compton suppression methods.