A repair station for HpGe detectors

POSTER

Abstract

Hyper-pure Germanium detectors (HpGe) offer the highest energy resolution for gamma-ray nuclear spectroscopy (about 1.5 keV @ 1 MeV), and are used in all the world's leading detector arrays such as GammaSphere, AGATA and GRETINA. The detector crystals are operated in cryostats at 100 K to reduce thermal noise. To maintain low leakage current and low operating temperatures, cryostat hygiene is very important. Detectors must be regularly maintained by using a high-vacuum, oil-free annealing station. At elevated temperatures above 373 K the process of pumping and baking can also anneal away neutron damage to the detector crystals. This poster will show the design and building of a new HpGe repair station at U. Mass Lowell, and make comparisons of results obtained from this new station to the Gammasphere annealing factory at Argonne.

*This research is funded by the DOE National Nuclear Safety Administration and the Office of Science.

Authors

  • Robert Shearman

    • University of Massachusetts Lowell/University of Surrey

  • Christopher Lister

    • University of Massachusetts Lowell

  • A.J. Mitchell

    • University of Massachusetts Lowell

  • Patrick Copp

    • University of Massachusetts Lowell

  • Steven Jepeal

    • University of Notre Dame/University of Massachusetts Lowell

  • Partha Chowdhury

    • University of Massachusetts, Lowell
    • University of Massachusetts Lowell