Low-Background Cryostats with Carbon Fiber Endcaps
for Germanium Detectors

Carbon Fiber

• is stronger than Al, Mg, or Cu

• creates less background

• does not corrode

• can see energies less than 10 keV

This lower background material allows for lower Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) for a specific counting time, which provides another step in increasing sample throughput in low-background counting applications. The lower Z of Carbon Fiber provides a low-energy window without the additional background found in most alloys.

Carbon Fiber, unlike Beryllium, is non-toxic and can be cleaned with most laboratory solvents such as methanol, trichloroethylene, and acetone. Soap and water may also be used. Abrasive cleaners should not be used.

100,000 second live time spectra of two similar efficiency Low Background GEM detectors, one with a Magnesium endcap and one with a Carbon Fiber endcap. These background spectra were taken in a standard lead shield.

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