Characterization of an electrically cooled BEGe detector till E$_{\gamma}\sim7$ MeV

TL;DR

This study characterizes an electrically cooled BEGe detector across a broad gamma-ray energy range, demonstrating its suitability for gamma-ray spectroscopy and nuclear astrophysics research through experimental and simulated analysis.

Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed characterization of an electrically cooled BEGe detector up to 7 MeV, including experimental validation and GEANT4 simulations of its efficiency and geometry effects.

Findings

Detector effective up to 7 MeV demonstrated

Simulations closely match experimental results

Suitable for gamma-ray spectroscopy and astrophysics studies

Abstract

An electrically cooled Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detector has been characterized in the energy range E$_{\gamma}$ $\sim$ 0.122 - 7 MeV by utilizing the $\gamma$- rays emitted by a short-lived resonance state in $^{15}$O populated through $^{14}$N(p,$\gamma$) reaction and standard radioactive source ($^{152}$Eu). The experimental results have been reproduced through simulations with GEANT4 code, including vendor specified detector geometry along with the detailed construction of the target holder flange, to delineate the effects of the holder at various energies and detector position. Later the efficiency with a bare point source has been simulated. It has been found that the electrically cooled BEGe detector is suitable for usage in the $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy as well as for the study of resonance phenomena in nuclear astrophysics.