Manganese 54 Gamma Spectrum

[isoenzyme]

Manganese-54 (Mn-54) is traditionally a beta source with a half-life of 312.2 days that decays via electron capture to Cr-54. It emits a beta particle at 542.2 keV but also a single gamma at 834.8 keV (and 14 X-rays centered around 0.5 and 5 keV). Using a CsI(Tl) detector with the GS-USB-PRO results in the following spectrum:

Gamma spectrum of 1 uCi Mn-54 showing the single gamma emission at 834.8 keV.

1 uCi Mn-54.png (45.58 KiB) Viewed 695 times

A screen capture of the PRA height histogram is also provided:

PRA (v.20) height histogram of Mn-54.

[Steven Sesselmann]

Christopher,

Nice contribution, first time here. With your permission I shall add it to the sample spectra on my site.

Steven

Manganese 54 - Mn54

[isoenzyme]

I would be honored if you did - the table is an excellent addition.

[Steven Sesselmann]

Thanks Christopher,

These gamma spectrum samples bring a lot of new people to my site, so I try to make them as informative as possible.

I did a bit of searching and found some info, but if you have anything to add to Mn54 or any of the other spectra, I am happy to do so.

https://www.gammaspectacular.com/blue/g ... a_Spectrum

Steven

[isoenzyme]

Thanks for adding it to the spectrum database. Looks great! I've got a Zn-65 spectrum to add as soon as I find out where a mystery peak is coming from...

[Conor Whyte]

Here is what Mn54 looks like on my setup using Theremino MCA 7.3 . Not quite as clean.

[isoenzyme]

Wow, for a 10 uCi source that looks super clean. How would it look if you "turned up the volume" just a bit (i.e., until the Audio Input bar was at 75%-90%)?

[Conor Whyte]

I am going to experiment a bit more with the Theremino MCA software. That's only very short exposure. I am going to experiment with a longer exposure and use PRA to see if I can get a better resolution. The peak at the left side is not visible so more experimentation is needed

[isoenzyme]

Best of luck. The audio input signal is so low I'm wondering if you're saturating (an easy thing to do with such a hot source). I'd play with the volume from (I think) the options tab on the Theremino software: If the signal INCREASES when you turn the volume down then saturation is possible. (I downloaded and have tried the Theremino software for this very purpose - it's a bit easier to do this function vs. PRA. I use the GS-USB-PRO and have taken to using the Theremino output to adjust the volume - I wish PRA had that function ... or I wish I knew how to use PRA to accomplish that function) Be warned that adjusting the volume will mess with your calibration.

[Conor Whyte]

Here is what happened in Theremino MCA 7.3 last night after backing the source off to 1.5m distance.

Mn54.png (93.77 KiB) Viewed 607 times