Gamma ray analysis in planetary mapping

Abstract

n this work, we present ways to improve the analysis procedure for high resolution gamma ray planetary mapping. This study is aimed at providing better analysis procedures for the Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) experiment aboard NASA's Mars Observer Mission. We study how a better estimate of the background from larger regions will improve the study of smaller regions (spectra with low statistics). We also examine how to improve line intensity measurements. Our results show that the major error in line intensity results from the shift in position of the peak with low peak significance. These studies are performed using natural peaks in spectra from controlled laboratory experiment with similar energy resolution.