Semiconductor Photon Detectors

Categories of Semiconductor Photon Detectors

ORTEC offers a wide range of semiconductor photon detectors and options which, as seen in the figure, cover energies for X rays in the few hundred eV range up to gamma rays in the 10 MeV and above. As appropriate, these detectors are made of high purity germanium (HPGe of both P and N type), or lithium drifted silicon (SiLi). All of these are cryogenically cooled detectors. Select the cooling tab for cooling information.

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More Tutorial on Semiconductor Photon Detectors [PDF]

Germanium Detector Stocklist

Cryostats, Dewars, Cryostat/Dewar Assemblies, and Electrical Cooling

All HPGe and SiLi photon detectors must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures to operate successfully. The “classic” means of cooling is by the use of a liquid cryogen, most commonly liquid nitrogen (LN2). ORTEC offers a large range of liquid nitrogen cryostats, dewars and storage systems. Download the configuration guide for your choice of detector category to see liquid nitrogen cryostats, dewars and storage systems specific to that detector type.

ORTEC pioneered the electro-mechanical cooling of HPGe and SiLi detectors in the mid 1980’s. Since that time, development of such systems has continued apace at ORTEC. The following products and product families employ electro-mechanical coolers of the Klemeko and Stirling cycle types.

X-COOLER II		Low Cost HPGe detector cooler for counting laboratory applications
		X-COOLER vs. LN2
IDM		100% integrated very large area HPGe spectrometer for portal and similar applications
Detective Family		100% integrated hand held isotope identifiers
Trans-Spec Family		100% integrated portable spectrometers for in-situ applications.

For cryostat/dewar specifications, see the configuration guide for your detector type.

Germanium Detector Stocklist

High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) Detector Manufacturing

For 50 years ORTEC has been responsible for most major innovations in silicon charged-particle and germanium gamma-ray detectors. ORTEC was the first company to develop its own germanium crystal growth technology. The ensuing availability of the world’s best detector-grade germanium has made ORTEC the world’s primary supplier of high-purity germanium detectors.
The production of ORTEC HPGe photon detectors involves complex manufacturing processes. The description of these processes in this section emphasizes the tangible benefits to both customer and manufacturer of having crystal and detector manufacturing plus quality control “under one roof.”

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Germanium Detector Stocklist

Timetable of ORTEC Innovations
in Semiconductor Radiation Detectors
2010 PROFILE Series "MX" HPGe Detector
2010 Low Rate Safeguards Detectors
2009 Micro-trans-SPEC Portable HPGe Spectrometer
2009 trans-SPEC-DX-100 HPGe Spectrometer
2008 -HE Harsh Environment Detector Option
2007 Carbon Fiber Endcaps
2007 Interchangeable Detector Moduel (IDM)
2004 trans-SPEC Portable HPGe Spectrometer
2001 PROFILE Series GEM HPGe detector
2001 SMART-1 Authenticated HPGe detector
2000 X-COOLER low-cost electrically cooled detector
2000 200% Efficiency P-type HPGe detector
1998 “Safeguards Tuned” HPGe detector
1994 175% Efficiency P-type HPGe detector
1994 IGLET-X Soft X-Ray detector
1992 150% Efficiency P-type HPGe detector
1988 100% Efficiency P-type HPGe detector
1987 80% Efficiency P-type HPGe detector
1987 70% Efficiency N-type HPGe detector
1987 PopTop Transplantable detector
1986 70% Efficiency P-type HPGe detector
1985 Electrically Cooled HPGe detector
1983 DUET BGO-HPGe and “Golf Club” detectors
1979 HPGe Well detectors
1979 Streamline cryostat
1979 Portable HPGe detector (Gamma Gage)
1979 Low-Energy Coaxial (LO-AX) detector
1978 N-Type Germanium detectors (GAMMA-X)
1977 In-House HPGe material
1976 High-Purity Coaxial Germanium detectors
1975 HPGe LEPS with First Ion-Implanted Contact
1973 Ge(Li) LEPS Low-Energy Planar detectors
1973 In-House Ge(Li) material
1968 Si(Li) Lithium-Drifted detectors (X-ray)
1965 Ge(Li) Lithium-Drifted detectors
1961 Silicon Surface Barrier detectors

Semiconductor Photon Detector Accessories

B/PFA-1.2, 3.0, 5.0,or HF used to pressure fill portable dewars with respective volumes.	4-in. Cooling Rod Extension; used on dipstick detectors. Includes indium foil gasket. CRE-1 for 1.25" diameter or CRE-2 for 1.5" diameter
Detector Interface Modules (DIM) or (SMART-1 and SMART-INTERFACE)	WD/30 and WD/50 withdrawal device supplied in respective dewar size.
HPLBS Series High Performance Low Background Shields and Accessories for Ge Detectors	Fill Funnel for filling portable dewars are provided with portable detector systems with different length fill tubes according to the dewar size.
	HT-1 heater tape
LNP-30D-2 Probe for use with 729A; used on dipstick cryostat CFG-PH-2, CFG-PH4, or large diameter CFG-PV4. Center hole diameter is 1.5 in. LNP-30D-3 Probe for use with 729A; used on all dipstick cryostats except CFG-PH-2, CFG-PH4, or large diameter CFG-PV4. Center hole diameter is 1.25 in.	LNP-7D Probe for use with 729A; fits standard 7.5-liter and 13 liter bucket (SL, PS, PS4) type dewars. LNP-30B is longer with a slightly different lid.
LNTC1.25 1.25" Liquid Nitrogen Transfer Collar. LNTC1.5 1.5" Liquid Nitrogen Transfer Collar.	LNTC1.25WH 1.25" Liquid Nitrogen Transfer Collar with mounting hardware. LNTC1.5WH 1.5" Liquid Nitrogen Transfer Collar with mounting hardware.
NTC/30 (pictured) used for pressure filling the 30L bucket style dewar. Models NTC/7.5B, NTC/13, and NTC/15B are for respective dewar sizes.	PFB-MOD3L and PFB-MOD7L pressure fill adapters for the respective sized multi-orientation dewars.
PTPA is one of two items needed to adapt the model VVO-2 to access the vacuum in PopTop capsules.	PTVSO is one of two items needed to adapt the model VVO-2 to access the vacuum in PopTop capsules.
SENSADPTR needed to connect a vent line to the multi-orientation (MOD) dewars.	SDT-1 220V/110V step down transformer.
TL-3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 liquid nitrogen transfer lines supplied in respective lengths (ft.)	VL-6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 30 vent lines for liquid nitrogen filling supplied in respective lengths (ft.)
VVO-1 adapts the VVO-2 to access the vacuum in Non-PopTop cryostats.	VVO-2 vacuum valve operator and the ORTEC tooling for any ORTEC vacuum connection. (May require adapters.)
X-COOL-PK-115 (or -220) Complete X-COOLER II Pump-Out Kit including valve operator, pump, and gauge.	X-COOL-PK-ADPT X-COOLER II Pump-Out Kit Adapter Only
X-COOL-FILTER Replacement filters (pkg. of 12).	X-COOL-STAND
X-COOL-RACKMOUNT (made with slightly different bolt circle sizes).	469 For use with ORTEC Detectors with other manufacturer’s HV supplies equipped with shutdown circuitry with HV-on in open circuit condition and HV-off in short circuit condition. Includes adapter cable.
496 used to control the temperature of heater tapes. 496-1 includes the 496 and HT-1. 496-2 includes the 496, HT-1, and SDT-1.	596A temperature controller for internal heating elements inside special cryostats.
729A Liquid Nitrogen Level Monitor	ISO-CART Mobile Assay System
Clamp for Vertical "Dispstick" Cryostat 803586 for 1.25" ID or 803908 for 1.5" ID	810292 or "Sieve Pill" pumping agent for the PopTop vacuum interface.