Year
1994
Abstract
A prototype gamma-ray spectrometer utilizing xenon gas near the critical point (16.6° C, 58 atm) is under development. The spectrometer will function as a roomtemperature ionization chamber detecting gamma rays in the energy range 100 keV- 2 MeV, with an energy resolution intermediate between semiconductor (Ge) and scintillation (Nal) spectrometers. The energy resolution is superior to that of a Nal scintillation spectrometer by a substantial margin (approximately a factor 5), and accordingly, much more information can be extracted from a given gamma-ray spectrum. Unlike germanium detectors, the spectrometer possesses the capability for sustained operation under ambient temperature conditions without a requirement for liquid nitrogen.