Characterization of a broad-energy Germanium spectrometer

Abstract

Germanium detectors are widely used in -ray spectrometry. In this TFG we have performed the energy, resolution and e ciency calibrations of a broad-energy Ge spectrometer using a set of radioactive sources. The effciency was also studied with Monte Carlo simulations. Furthermore, the properties of characteristic x-rays, annihilation and escape peaks were analysed. Modelling proved the excellent linearity and resolution of the detector, while the experimental effciency differed somewhat from the simulation results. Parameter findings were in strong agreement with the literature data and Doppler broadening was confirmed for the annihilation peaks.