germanium coaxial detector

A germanium coaxial detector is a type of solid-state detector used for radiation measurement. It utilizes a germanium crystal, which is a semiconductor material. When ionizing radiation interacts with the germanium, it creates electron-hole pairs. An electric field applied across the crystal causes these charge carriers to move, generating a current pulse.

These detectors are particularly advantageous for gamma-ray spectroscopy due to germanium's high atomic number, which leads to a greater probability of absorbing gamma rays compared to silicon. The coaxial configuration allows for a large active volume, and their excellent energy resolution makes them a primary tool for high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. To minimize interference from thermally generated charge carriers, germanium detectors are typically cooled to liquid-nitrogen temperatures during operation.12