Progress in the fabrication of γ-ray detectors from high purity germanium

A planar detector with a depletion layer width of 8mm has been fabricated from high purity germanium. A total system resolution of 2.4 keV at 1.33MeV is obtained with 600 volts bias on this detector. Another detector with a 3mm thick depletion region which was operated at 2000 volts bias yielded a system resolution of 1.65 keV at 1.33 MeV. Thin window detectors have been fabricated by using a glow discharge of BF₃ or PF₅. This technique has also been used to form ohmic contacts on high purity germanium.