Gamma-ray imaging with a coaxial HPGe detector

✍ Scribed by T. Niedermayr; K. Vetter; L. Mihailescu; G.J. Schmid; D. Beckedahl; J. Blair; J. Kammeraad

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 652 KB
• Volume: 553
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0168-9002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2005.07.017

✦ Synopsis

We report on the first experimental demonstration of Compton imaging of gamma-rays with a single coaxial highpurity germanium (HPGe) detector. This imaging capability is realized by two-dimensional segmentation of the outside contact in combination with digital pulse-shape analysis, which enables to image gamma-rays in 4p without employing a collimator. We are able to demonstrate the ability to image the 662 keV gamma-ray from a 137 Cs source with preliminary event selection, with an angular resolution of 51 and a relative efficiency of 0.3%. This efficiency expresses the fraction of gamma-rays that can be imaged, out of the total gamma-ray flux which is emitted into the solid angle of the detector. In addition to the 4p imaging capability, such a system is characterized by its excellent energy resolution and can be implemented in any size possible for Ge detectors to achieve high efficiency.