Semiconductor based photon radiation detectors have been evolving for over half a century, with ORTEC pioneering commercial availability for a majority of that time. Initial offerings were based around lithium-drifted germanium Ge(Li) and lithium-drifted silicon Si(Li). Ge(Li) was later replaced with more advanced, high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. ORTEC provides a comprehensive suite of HPGe detector solutions covering an extensive range of energies and for a variety of applications.

Cryogenic cooling is required for germanium semiconductor radiation detectors. In order to support various counting geometries, ORTEC offers a wide range of cooling options ranging from standard LN2 systems, to advanced electro-mechanical cryocoolers such as the ICS™.

These technologies enable ORTEC HPGe radiation detectors to be used world-wide in applications as diverse as nuclear structure physics to the prevention of illicit nuclear materials trafficking at the world's largest ports of commerce.

HPGe Radiation Detector Types and How to Choose

Categories of High Purity Germanium (HPGe) Radiation Detectors

ORTEC offers a wide range of HPGe radiation detector solutions which cover energies for X-rays in the few hundred electron volts (eV) range up to gamma rays in the 10 MeV and above range. These detectors are manufactured using high purity germanium (HPGe) of both P- and N-type. All detectors in these two classes are cryogenically cooled, using either liquid nitrogen or electro-mechanical coolers.

How to Choose the Right HPGe Radiation Detector for Your Application

Choosing the correct detector for your specific application involves many criteria. No single table or graph can uniquely specify a detector for a particular measurement. The energy range chart above, and the key attribute table below should provide an excellent start in making the right choice. You can click the detector type link in the table below for more details regarding that specific detector.

ORTEC also has several unique detectors that are application specific as well as the capability to design and manufacture specialty detectors. Select the links below for more details.
 

• Application Specific Radiation Detectors
• Special Detectors

			FWHM Resolution (in keV) @ Specified Energy
Detector Series	Typical Counting Geometry	Relative Efficiency Range (%)	5.9 keV	122 keV	1332 keV
GEM P-type coaxial	Point source Large surface area source Marinelli beaker	10-150	n/a	0.80-1.30	1.75-2.30
Profile C P-type coaxial	Point source Large surface area source Marinelli beaker	20-175	0.73-1.23	0.85-1.30	1.80-2.30
Profile M P-type coaxial	Point source Large surface area source	20-175	n/a	0.88-1.30	1.80-2.20
Profile S P-type semi-planar	Point source Large surface area source	7-65	0.35-0.50	0.65-0.70	1.80-1.90
Profile SP P-type semi-planar	Point source Large surface area source	7-50	0.30-0.43	0.59-0.63	1.80-1.90
Profile F P-type semi-planar	Point source Large surface area source	7-60	n/a	0.65-0.85	1.80-2.10
GMX N-type coaxial	Point source Large surface area source Marinelli beaker Neutron background	10-100	0.60-1.20	n/a	1.80-2.5
GLP P-type planar	Point source Small surface area source Timing	n/a	0.17-0.39	0.48-0.60	n/a
GWL P-type reverse coaxial (well)	Small volume source inside of the well	90-450 cc active volume (15%-100% rel. eff.)	n/a	1.20-1.40	2.10-2.30

 

Application	Most Suitable Detector(s)
Synchrotron light studies; Soft X-ray (fusion) research	GLP
Large environmental samples with complex spectra	GEM, GEM-F, GEM-M, GEM-C, GEM-S, (low-background recommended)
Environmental samples on filter media, dishes or bottles	GEM-F, GEM-C, GEM-S, GEM, GMX
Small environmental samples	GWL (low-background recommended)
High-grade fissile materials / Safeguards	SGD, SGD-GEM
Neutron activation analysis	GMX (PLUS option recommended)
Post-accident monitoring	GEM (PLUS option recommended)
Compton-suppressed gamma spectroscopy	GMX
Sea or airborne surveillance	Micro-trans-SPEC, trans-SPEC-DX-100T, IDM-200-V
Lung monitoring	GEM-S, Actinide-85
Measurements in-beam or near fast-neutron fields	GMX (special internal heater for in-situ neutron damage anneal recommended)
Waste assay	Micro-trans-SPEC, trans-SPEC-DX-100T, GEM, GMX, GEM-C, GEM-S, IDM-200-V
Freight / Border Security	Micro-Detective, Detective-EX, Detective-DX, Detective-200, IDM-200-P, IDM-200-V
In-Situ environmental spectroscopy	Micro-trans-SPEC, trans-SPEC-DX-100T, GEM, GMX, GEM-C, GEM-S, IDM-200-V