| This thesis is an evaluation of a new electrode technology for segmented germanium gamma-ray detectors. The detector assessed herein is a planar high-purity germanium wafer (a LEPS or low-energy photon spectrometer) with 16 photolithographic-deposited, amorphous-germanium contacts on either side. This new contact material is shown to be an improvement over the current standard, lithium and boron electrodes, in both ease-of-manufacture and in performance. The symmetry gained with the use of one material for all the contacts is shown to greatly reduce the difference in energy collected by strips on either side. The stability of the amorphous germanium allows for finer electrode segmentation, reducing the gap between each strip. This smaller gap leads to a more uniform electric field in the active volume and ultimately less charge loss between strips. These improvements are quantified with the analysis of the energy difference and distribution of one- and two-hit interactions in the crystal by mono-energetic gamma rays from a 137Cs source. The detector is shown to be a major step forward in the development of contact technologies necessary for the application of position-sensitive gamma-detection outside of fundamental research, such as in nuclear medicine, astrophysics, and homeland security. |
