GERMANIUM GAMMA-RAY DETECTOR OPERATION WITH A FLIGHT-LIKE MECHANICAL COOLER

Ball Aerospace and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) have successfull y integrated a large germanium gamma-ray detector with a long-lifetime Stirling-cycle mechanical cooler. Testing performed at LBL in March 1 995 demonstrated for the first time the compatibility of a space-quali ty mechanical cooler with a high-resolution germanium gamma-ray detect or. The focus of the test was to investigate noise pick-up on the dete ctor signal output caused by electromagnetic/electrostatic interferenc e or vibration from the mechanical cooler. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science L imited