the

s, 24Na,

7

counts to

peak

comparison
r using
These

these isotopes and the response data given in Tables I,

counts/ (ur/hr - 238U) and 1300 counts/ (ur/hr - 232Th).
similar correction of 350 counts/(ur/hr - 232Th)

must be

A

| made to the 0.51 MeV peak before estimating the 106Rh dose

the

rate.

Energy Band Method

le.

is

£ the

imate of
slightly
chemes

RF

Le aA IT

esponse

In determining natural emitter dose rates, the total
"energy" (counts per channel multiplied by mean y-ray energy
corresponding to that channel) in the spectrum between energy
values that bracket significant peaks is related to the total
dose rate contribution from the emitter or series of emitters
characterized by these peaks.
The three bands used are
centered about the 1.46 MeV peak (49K), the 1.76 MeV peak

(214pi-238u series),

/T) 3

II

qd
of

Ss, are
for the
areas
continuum,

(Np/T)

higher.
nproved
c
and

II,

and III these correction factors were determined to be 3000

two

ber
ral

the 0.61 Mev

the area of the entire smeared-out peak and subtract a
contribution based on the ?38y and 232Th dose rates determined
from higher energy peaks.
From the decay scheme data for

smaller.
Yr source

es

and overlaps

the 137cs dose rate, therefore, it is necessary to estimate

ntegration
for these
stribution
angular
energies

rate,

1s often much larger than

peak, and we cannot separately determine the areas of these
two peaks or the 0.58 MeV 2087) peak.
In order to estimate

1 Mev

thus

The new detectors are able to resolve the 0.66 Mev 13/’cs
At present however, the 0.66 MeV
and 0.61 Mev 214Bi peaks.

an

tion, the
1.76 MeV
je 1.46

and the 2.62 MeV peak (20871-232tmseries).

As in the 5" x 3" detector calibration,

three simultaneous

equations relating the "energy" in the bands EF), 1.32 - 1.60
MeV; E>, 1.62 - 1.90 MeV; and E3, 2.48 - 2.75 MeV to natural

emitter open field dose rates were derived by applying a
multiple regression analysis to the peak area estimate of

the dose rates and Ej, E92,

and E3 for a large number of field

locations.
The cosmic ray contribution to each energy band
was first subtracted out using crystal response data from

Spectra taken over large lakes at different altitudes.
Section III and Figure 3)

(See

The resulting equations for the 4" x 4" detectors with

bakelite shields are
K
U=

.O78E]'
.337E9'

T =

.297E3'

-

.055E9'
.179E3'

-

.022E3'

Select target paragraph3