Analysis of SNIP Algorithm for Background Estimation in Spectra Measured with LaBr3: Ce Detectors

LaBr3:Ce scintillating detectors exhibit excellent properties for γ-ray spectroscopy such as high energy resolution and operation under room temperature as well as MHz counting rates. On the other hand, sever background radiations exist due to the internal contamination of radioactive materials that are very difficult to be avoided during the manufacture. To decrease the effect of these background levels, some analytical techniques, e.g. background subtraction, should be applied. In the present work, we investigate the efficiency of the sensitive nonlinear iterative clipping peak (SNIP) method for background estimation and subtraction. Optimization of the clipping window is discussed for range of energy up to 3 MeV. Enhancement of energy resolution up to 50% was obtained.