A position sensitive β-γ coincidence technique for multiplexed gamma spectrometry of many small samples

A technique based on β-γ coincidence has been developed to perform multiplexed gamma-ray spectrometry of small samples using a single gamma-ray detector and a position sensitive beta detector. A system is described that uses a position sensitive photomultiplier tube coupled to a thin plastic scintillator as the beta imaging detector. Multiplexed gamma-ray spectrometry is demonstrated by results obtained with this system for a 4x4 array of Au, Co and Ag samples. The advantages of this technique over gamma spectrometry on individual samples are the substantial reduction in total counting time and the reduction in background, which are especially significant in neutron activation analysis of particles. ((orig.))