Operational Characteristics of Germanium Detectors at Higher Temperatures

Several important areas for the use of germanium spectrometers would be opened if these detectors could be successfully operated at temperatures considerably in excess of 77°K. Precise measurements on a series of detectors made from different high-purity germanium crystals and on one lithium-drifted germanium detector indicate that the resolution does not degrade significantly until nearly 150°K is reached. Similar-sized detectors, including the lithium-drifted device, exhibited essentially identical temperature-resolution relationships.