The Clover: a new generation of composite Ge detectors

This paper presents the characteristics of a new generation of composite germanium detectors: the Clover detector. Its development was based on simulation calculations performed with the code GEANT3. An extensive study of its main characteristics involving the photopeak detection efficiency, the energy resolution and the timing performed with sources and in-beam experiments have been measured. A simple Doppler broadening correction procedure is proposed to improve the in-beam energy resolution of the Clover detector. An other important property, the sensitivity to the linear polarisation of γ-rays has been measured. The performances obtained with the associated BGO suppression shield are also reported. All these results compare very well with the initial simulation calculations.