Gamma-Ray Spectral Unfolding of CdZnTe-Based Detectors Using a Genetic Algorithm

The analysis of [Formula: see text]-ray spectra can be an arduous task, especially in the case of room temperature semiconductor detectors, where several distortions and instrumental artifacts conceal the true spectral shape. We developed a genetic algorithm to perform the unfolding of [Formula: see text]-spectra in order to restore the true energy distribution of the incoming radiation. We successfully validated our approach on experimental spectra of four radionuclides ([Formula: see text] Am, [Formula: see text] Co, [Formula: see text] Cs and [Formula: see text] Ba) acquired with two [Formula: see text]-based detectors with different contact geometries (single pixel and drift strip). The unfolded spectra consist of [Formula: see text]-like peaks in correspondence with the radiation emissions of each radioisotope.