Encapsulation of germanium detectors for space flight

Author

Cork, C.P. ; Landis, D.A. ; Luke, P.N. ; Madden, N.W. ; Malone, D.F. ; Pehl, R.H.

Author_Institution

California Univ., Berkeley, CA, USA

Volume

43

Issue

3

fYear

1996

fDate

6/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1463

Lastpage

1466

Abstract

A hermetic enclosure for a high-purity germanium detector was developed as part of the detector assembly for the Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer flown on the WIND satellite. High G forces during launch (~100 G), long term stability (lifetime of at least 5 years), passive cooling and low energy photon detection were critical parameters addressed. These design parameters dictated rigid containment of the detector and the selection of enclosure materials, hermetic high voltage and signal feedthroughs, electrical contacts to the detector and enclosure seals. Sealing of the germanium detector within a valveless hermetic enclosure was achieved with a custom vacuum bell-jar press equipped with a vacuum isolated hydraulic ram. Both vacuum and nitrogen gas filled encapsulations (pressurized to 2 atmospheres) were examined; nitrogen gas filled encapsulations were more rugged

Keywords

artificial satellites; astronomical instruments; encapsulation; gamma-ray astronomy; gamma-ray detection; gamma-ray spectrometers; germanium radiation detectors; seals (stoppers); 2 atm; Ge; HPGe detectors; N; Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer; WIND satellite; electrical contacts; enclosure seals; gas filled encapsulations; hermetic high voltage feedthroughs; high G forces; high-purity Ge detector; long term stability; low energy photon detection; passive cooling; rigid containment; sealing; signal feedthroughs; space flight; vacuum bell-jar press; vacuum isolated hydraulic ram; valveless hermetic enclosure; Assembly; Cooling; Encapsulation; Gamma ray detection; Gamma ray detectors; Germanium; Nitrogen; Satellites; Spectroscopy; Stability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.507084

Filename

507084