Alpha Spectroscopy Low Energy Error

[terryphi]

Hello,

I've taken a spectrum of a U238 sample, and I keep getting this hill of low energy values. Any ideas as to what could be causing them?

Sorry about the weird screenshot; it's the only one I had and my friend couldn't see the dots, so i had to go over them in paint.

 

[Astronuc]

What is the scale of the abscissa?

I would suggest comparing it to a standard alpha spectrum of U-238.

 

[raining Pete]

Hi there,

From the graph, it looks like you may have some background noise or interference in your spectrum. Have you tried taking multiple readings and averaging them to see if the hill of low energy values persists? It could also be worth checking your instrument settings and making sure everything is calibrated properly. Sometimes even small changes in settings can affect the resulting spectrum.

Another possibility could be that there is some contamination in your sample. Have you checked the purity of your U238 sample and made sure it is free of any other elements that could be contributing to the low energy values? It's also important to make sure your sample is properly prepared and placed in the instrument correctly.

Lastly, have you consulted with any experts or colleagues in the field? They may have some insights or suggestions based on their experience. I hope this helps and good luck with your analysis!