High-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors are widely recognized as the preferred solid-state technology when superior energy resolution is required. These detectors demand extremely high germanium purity (13N) and specialized manufacturing expertise, making them among the most advanced radiation-sensing devices available – capabilities that Umicore provides by producing ultra-high purity germanium.
Gamma-ray detectors measure electromagnetic radiation by counting and analysing the energy of individual photons emitted from radioactive or cosmic sources. HPGe detectors, renowned for their outstanding energy resolution, convert the energy of incoming gamma rays into electrical signals through the formation of electron–hole pairs. The energy of each photon identifies the element and its isotope, while the number of photon counts indicates the abundance of the radioactive source.
Gamma rays are generated in nuclear processes such as radioactive decay and fusion, as well as by cosmic phenomena including stars, neutron stars, and black holes. Measuring these rays within our solar system provides valuable insights into their origins and the elemental composition of their sources.
