Germanium gamma-ray detectors

Abstract

Semiconductor gamma‐ray detectors consist essentially of a piece of solid material in which electrons and holes are produced when a gamma ray is absorbed. These electrons and holes are then collected by an electric field in the material to provide an electric signal that is a direct measure of the energy of the gamma ray. This simple statement implies detector‐material characteristics that are by no means easy to achieve, and much of this article will be concerned with these characteristics.