Coaxial Germanium Lithium-Drifted Gamma Radiation Detectors

Abstract

This thesis deals with the theory, fabrication and application of semi-conductor detectors to gamma ray spectroscopy. The theory section discusses the semi-conductor lattice with respect to the incoming gamma ray and the subsequent hole-electron pairs formed in the diode depletion region. The fabrication section describes the materials and apparatus used in this work to produce the Ge(Li) detectors. A table is given showing the characteristics of these devices as they proceed through the process. The section on the characteristics of these detectors gives information as to how a good detector should operate under certain tests., The detectors made in this laboratory were used to investigate a well known "fission product" nuclide and a neutron capture reaction on a rare earth element. However, these investigations were not exhaustive but only show how the improved resolution of the Ge(Li) detectors has opened up new areas of gamma ray studies.