Compact maintenance-free mechanical cooling detector systems are being developed to operate large-volume (approximately 570 cubic cm, approximately 3 kg, 140% or larger) germanium detectors for field applications. These detector systems are necessary for remote long-duration liquid-nitrogen free deployment of large-volume germanium gamma-ray detector systems. The Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer (RASA) nuclear explosion monitoring systems will benefit from the availability of such detector systems by allowing the very largest available germanium detectors ...
Germanium detector arrays are needed for low-level counting facilities. The applications in such user facilities include the characterization of low-level radioactive samples. In addition, the same detector arrays can perform important fundamental physics measurements, including the search for rare-events like neutrino-less double-beta decay. Recently, relatively large detectors (approximately 700 g) having relatively small (approximately few mm) p+ contacts are being investigated as a possible detector basis for these detector arrays. ...
Compact maintenance-free mechanical cooling systems are being developed to operate large volume (approx. 570 cm(3), approx. 3 kg, 140 % or larger) germanium detectors for field applications. A new generation of domestically produced Stirling-cycle mechanical coolers provide the basis for this evolution. When properly instrumented, these systems can cool the very largest volume germanium detectors with no maintenance or liquid nitrogen requirements. The user can leave these systems unplugged on ...
Germanium detector arrays are needed for low-level counting facilities. The applications of such user facilities include characterization of low-level radioactive samples. In addition, the same detector arrays can perform important fundamental physics measurements including the search for rare-events like neutrinoless double-beta decay. Germanium coaxial detectors having segmented outer contacts can provide sensitivity improvement in low-background measurements. The segmented outer detector contact allows pulse-shape analysis measurements that provide additional background reduction. ...
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