The GALATEA Test-Facility for High Purity Germanium Detectors

TL;DR

GALATEA is a specialized test facility for high purity germanium detectors that enables detailed surface and bulk effect studies using various sources without material interference.

Contribution

The paper introduces GALATEA, a novel test setup allowing comprehensive surface and bulk effect analysis in germanium detectors with minimal material interference.

Findings

Successful commissioning with a 19-fold segmented detector

Capability to use alpha, beta, and laser sources for surface studies

Enhanced understanding of detector surface effects

Abstract

GALATEA is a test facility designed to investigate bulk and surface effects in high purity germanium detectors. A vacuum tank houses an infrared screened volume with a cooled detector inside. A system of three stages allows an almost complete scan of the detector. The main feature of GALATEA is that there is no material between source and detector. This allows the usage of alpha and beta sources as well as of a laser beam to study surface effects. A 19-fold segmented true-coaxial germanium detector was used for commissioning.