Influence of the background approximation methods on the analysis of γ-ray spectra

In any X- or gamma-ray spectrometry measurement, the approximation of the continuum background is important, because it influences strongly the net area values and the associated uncertainties of the total absorption peaks and consequently, the activity determination. Two mathematical methods to describe the background under the peaks have been tested: the first one uses a step function, and the second one-orthogonal polynomials. Both methods were applied to different spectral regions having multiple peaks. The results obtained from this work and the main conclusions are presented here. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.