High-energy 3D calorimeter for use in gamma-ray astronomy based on position-sensitive virtual Frisch-grid CdZnTe detectors

Moiseev, Alexander; Bolotnikov, A.; DeGeronimo, G.; Hays, E.; James, R.; Thompson, D.; Vernon, E.

doi:10.1088/1748-0221/12/12/c12037

Title: High-energy 3D calorimeter for use in gamma-ray astronomy based on position-sensitive virtual Frisch-grid CdZnTe detectors

Journal Article · Tue Dec 19 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of Instrumentation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/12/12/c12037· OSTI ID:1439432

Moiseev, Alexander ^[1]; Bolotnikov, A. ^[2]; DeGeronimo, G. ^[2]; Hays, E. ^[3]; James, R. ^[4]; Thompson, D. ^[3]; Vernon, E. ^[2]

CRESST/NASA/GSFC and Univ. of Maryland, College Park, Greenbelt, MD (United States)
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD (United States)
Savannah River National Lab., Savannah River, SC (United States)

Here, we will present a concept for a calorimeter based on a novel approach of 3D position-sensitive virtual Frisch-grid CdZnTe (hereafter CZT) detectors. This calorimeter aims to measure photons with energies from ~100 keV to 20–50 MeV . The expected energy resolution at 662 keV is better than 1% FWHM, and the photon interaction position-measurement accuracy is better than 1 mm in all 3 dimensions. Each CZT bar is a rectangular prism with typical cross-section from 5×5 to 7×7 mm² and length of 2–4 cm. The bars are arranged in modules of 4×4 bars, and the modules themselves can be assembled into a larger array. The 3D virtual voxel approach solves a long-standing problem with CZT detectors associated with material imperfections that limit the performance and usefulness of relatively thick detectors (i.e., >1 cm). Also, it allows us to use the standard (unselected) grade crystals, while achieving the energy resolution of the premium detectors and thus substantially reducing the cost of the instrument. Such a calorimeter can be successfully used in space telescopes that use Compton scattering of γ-rays, such as AMEGO, serving as part of its calorimeter and providing the position and energy measurement for Compton-scattered photons (like a focal plane detector in a Compton camera). Also, it could provide suitable energy resolution to allow for spectroscopic measurements of γ-ray lines from nuclear decays.

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