gamma spectrum help request - a general comment

[Lester Slaback <Lester.Slaback@NIST.GOV>]

Without knowing the specifics, if you count a marinelli beaker filled with
water for an extended time, e.g., 2 days, you can see some interesting
effects.  The neutron moderation provided by the water in a low background
environment lets you see prompt gamma peaks from n-capture, see short-lived
nuclides from n-capture, etc.  In particular inelastic n-capture in Ge
(assuming you have a InGe detector) shows up as a broad 'peak' (>20 keV
wide as I recall).
See R. Lindstrom, et al,A low-background gamma-ray assay lab...., Nuc Inst
Methods, A299 (1990) 425-9

Disclaimer:  the above are the personal musings of the author, and do not
represent any past, present, or future position of NIST, the U.S. government,
or anyone else who might think that they are in a position of authority. 
Lester Slaback, Jr.  [Lester.Slaback@NIST.GOV] 
NBSR Health Physics 
Center for Neutron Research 
NIST
100 Bureau Dr.  STOP 3543 
Gaithersburg, MD  20899-3543 
301 975-5810 voice
301 921-9847 fax
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html