Germanium gamma‐ray detectors

NOV 01, 1977

Devices either of lithium‐drifted germanium or the more recently developed high‐purity type find uses in such fields as nuclear and exotic‐atom studies, nuclear medicine and activation analysis.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3037792

Richard H. Pehl

Semiconductor gamma‐ray detectors consist essentially of a piece of solid material in which electrons and holes are produced when a gamma ray is absorbed. These electrons and holes are then collected by an electric field in the material to provide an electric signal that is a direct measure of the energy of the gamma ray. This simple statement implies detector‐material characteristics that are by no means easy to achieve, and much of this article will be concerned with these characteristics.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

1. R. H. Pehl, F. S. Goulding, Nuc. Inst. Meth. 81, 329 (1970).https://doi.org/NUIMAL
2. R. H. Pehl, F. S. Goulding, D. A. Landis, M. Lenslinger, Nuc. Inst. Meth. 59, 45 (1968).https://doi.org/NUIMAL
3. D. W. Freck, J. Wakefield, Nature 4816, 669 (1962).https://doi.org/NATUAS
4. R. L. Heath, Scintillation Spectrometry Gamma‐Ray Spectrum Catalogue, 2nd ed., Vol. I, IDO‐16880‐1, AEC R & D Rep. Phys. TID‐4500, 31st ed. (1964).
5. R. N. Hall, T. J. Soltys, IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐18, 160 (1971).https://doi.org/IETNAE
6. W. L. Hansen, Nuc. Inst. Meth. 94, 377 (1971).https://doi.org/NUIMAL
7. J. Llacer, E. E. Haller, R. C. Cordi, IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐24, 53 (1977).https://doi.org/IETNAE
8. N. A. Wogman, IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐23, 1214 (1976).https://doi.org/IETNAE
9. C. E. Wiegand, Scientific American, May 1972, page 102.
10. J. A. Patton, R. R. Price, F. D. Rollo, A. B. Brill, R. H. Pehl, to be published in IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐25, No. 1 (1978).https://doi.org/IETNAE
11. K. W. Mailow, G. W. Phillips, F. C. Young, Proceedings of ERDA Symposium on X‐and Gamma‐Ray Sources and Applications, CONF‐760539, 94 (1976).
12. R. B. Falk, Proceedings of the Workshop on Measurement of Heavy Elements In‐Vivo, BNWL‐2088, 229 (1976).
13. E. L. Haines, J. R. Arnold, A. E. Metzger, IEEE Trans. Geoscience Electronics, GE‐14, 141 (1976).https://doi.org/IEGEAO
14. R. H. Pehl, E. E. Haller, R. C. Cordi, IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐20, 494 (1973).https://doi.org/IETNAE
15. G. H. Nakano, D. A. Simpson, W. L. Imhof, IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐24, 68 (1977).https://doi.org/IETNAE
16. H. W. Kraner, R. H. Pehl, E. E. Haller, IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐22, 149 (1975).https://doi.org/IETNAE
17. P. H. Stelson, A. K. Dickens, S. Raman, R. C. Trammell, Nucl. Inst. Meth. 98, 481 (1972).https://doi.org/NUIMAL
18. R. H. Pehl, L. S. Varnell, A. E. Metzger, to be published in IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. NS‐25, No. 1 (1978).https://doi.org/IETNAE

More about the Authors

Richard H. Pehl. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.