Eur. Phys. J. A (2013) 49: 61
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2013-13061-4

Special Article - Tools for Experiment and Theory

Correction for hole trapping in AGATA detectors using pulse shape analysis

¹⁹⁸⁹⁰ DSM/IRFU/SPhN, CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
²⁹⁸⁹⁰ Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, Köln, Germany
³⁹⁸⁹⁰ Sezione di Padova, INFN, Padova, Italy

^* e-mail: bart.bruyneel@cea.fr

Received: 14 December 2012
Revised: 11 April 2013
Accepted: 16 April 2013
Published online: 22 May 2013

Abstract

Data from the highly segmented High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors of the AGATA spectrometer show that segments are more sensitive to neutron damage than the central core contact. Calculations on the collection efficiency of charge carriers inside the HPGe detector were performed in order to understand this phenomenon. The trapping sensitivity, an expression based on the collection efficiencies for electrons and holes, is put forward to quantify the effect of charge carrier trapping. The sensitivity is evaluated for each position in the detector volume with respect to the different electrodes and the collected charge carrier type. Using the position information obtained by pulse shape analysis from the position-sensitive AGATA detectors, it is possible to correct for the energy deficit employing detector specific sensitivity values. We report on the successful correction of the energy peaks from heavily neutron-damaged AGATA detectors for core and segment electrode signals. The original energy resolution can optimally be recovered up to a certain quantifiable limit of degradation due to statistical fluctuations caused by trapping effects.