IMPROVEMENT IN GE DETECTOR COOLING

Abstract : High purity germanium (HPGe) detector cooling technology used in remote radionuclide assay applications, such as the Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer (RASA) Mark IV, is continually evolving. Cryocooler improvements in recent years have resulted in reduced size, reduced maintenance, improved reliability, and enhanced HPGe detector performance compared to systems based on earlier generations of cooling devices. The Cryo-Cycle(trademark) and Cryo-Pulse 5 are two such HPGe detector cooler/cryostat systems that we are modifying and evaluating for use in the RASA. The modifications will enhance vacuum lifetime and integrity, improve performance, and resolve the need to procure and handle liquid nitrogen (LN(2)). Both cryocoolers offer advantages over the existing generation of HPGe detector cooler/cryostats used in the RASA and other remote-sensing applications.