Eur. Phys. J. A (2020) 56: 141
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/s10050-020-00155-3

Special Article – Tools for Experiment and Theory

Compex: a cubic germanium detector

¹ Department of Physics, Lund University, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden
² Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, 50937, Cologne, Germany
³ Mirion Technologies (Canberra), Lingolsheim Facility, 67380, Lingolsheim, France
⁴ Present address: Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab, 91405, Orsay, France

^* e-mail: anton.samark-roth@nuclear.lu.se

Received: 10 February 2020
Accepted: 29 April 2020
Published online: 19 May 2020

Abstract

The Compex detector is an electrically cooled, composite germanium detector that uses four coaxial, cubic-shaped, single-encapsulated germanium crystals. This novel detector allows for new heights in photon detection efficiency in decay spectroscopy setups using box-shaped vacuum chambers. Its spectroscopic performance and detection efficiency is evaluated by means of source measurements. Motivated by Compex’s unique cubic germanium crystals, the Lund scanning system has been developed. The constructed system is used to characterise the response as a function of interaction position within a Compex crystal. Sensitivity across the front face, pulse shapes, and rise times have been analysed. Future development and applications of the Compex detector are discussed.