Performance of a coaxial geometry Cd1−xZnx Te detector

For many years, coaxial geometry detectors have been the preferred configuration for large volume high purity germanium detectors. Recently, developments in Cd1−xZnx Te crystal growth and detector fabrication have enabled the construction of coaxial geometry Cd1−xZnx Te detectors for the first time. We report on the performance of a coaxial geometry Cd1−xZnx Te detector operated as a gamma ray spectrometer. The pulse height spectra obtained from this detector were analyzed using a theory developed by Sakai for use with germanium detectors and good agreement was obtained between the predictions of Sakaiʹs theory and the results measured in our laboratory. We also comment on some possible improvements that could be made to future coaxial geometry Cd1−xZnx Te detectors.