Fabrication and performance tests of a segmented p-type HPGe detector

A p-type semi-coaxial HPGe detector has been segmented by cutting, with a diamond saw, and etching four circumferential grooves through the Li-diffused dead layer. The degree of segmentation was tested using a well-collimated low-energy gamma-ray source. An analysis cut that rejected events depositing energy in more than one segment was applied to an energy interval of 2038±5 keV, the region of interest (Qββ) for 76Ge 0νββ decay experiments. This segmentation cut resulted in a reduction of the Compton continuum of 59%.