Nuclear Spectroscopy using Novel, Position-Sensitive Detectors

Novel, position-sensitive particle and gamma detectors were tested for applications in nuclear physics experiments. An efficient compact setup was used to measure angular correlation between the alpha particle decay of $^{224}$Ra to an excited state in $^{220}$Rn, and the subsequent gamma decay to the ground state in $^{220}$Rn. A 1'' X 1'' position-sensitive avalanche photo-diode (PSAPD) was used for detecting the alpha particles and a planar germanium double-sided strip detector (GeDSSD) for detecting the gamma rays. Significant solid angle coverage is achieved in a single, fixed geometry, due to the excellent position resolutions of the PSAPD (400 microns) and the GeDSSD (5 mm) by positioning the detectors close to the source. Distortion correction algorithms for the PSAPD, pixel efficiencies, method of angle reconstruction and the measured angular correlation have been improved iteratively. Latest results will be presented.