Canberra Industries, Inc.

Packard Bioscience Company

Orren K Tench

James Francis Colaresi

Kenneth Michael Yocum

K Michael Yocum

Daniel J Smith

A small anode germanium well (SAGe well) radiation detector system/method providing for low capacitance, short signal leads, small area bottom-oriented signal contacts, enhanced performance independent of well diameter, and ability to determine radiation directionality is disclosed. The system incorporates a P-type bulk germanium volume (PGEV) having an internal well cavity void (IWCV). The external PGEV and IWCV surfaces incorporate an N+ electrode except for the PGEV external base region (EBR) in which a P+ contact electrode is fabricated within an isolation region. The PGEV structure is further encapsulated to permit operation at cryogenic temperatures. Electrical connection to the SAGe well is accomplished by bonding or mechanical contacting to the P+ contact electrode and the N+ electrode. The EBR of the PGEV may incorporate an integrated preamplifier inside the vacuum housing to minimize the noise and gain change due to ambient temperature variation.

Small anode germanium (SAGe) well radiation detector system and method

In a preferred embodiment, a non-linear thermal coupling to connect a heat load to a powered cooler, the coupling including: first and second thermal transfer elements, the first transfer thermal transfer element being thermally connected to the heat load and the second thermal transfer element being thermally connected to the powered cooler; the first and second thermal transfer elements being physically separated by a first gap when the first and second thermal transfer elements are at a relatively high temperature, and the first and second thermal transfer elements being in mutual physical contact when the first and second thermal transfer elements are at a relatively low temperature so as to thermally connect the heat load and the powered cooler; and the first and second thermal transfer elements being placed in the mutual physical contact by thermal contraction of a contracting element.

Non-linear thermal coupling for cryogenic coolers

A cryostat of the Dewar-flask type for maintaining extremely low, substantially constant temperatures for various detectors or other devices in good heat conducting relationship with the liquid nitrogen or other cryogen which cryostat has plural ports for accepting the detector assembly so as to permit multi-axial detector placement in the same cryostat without structural modification.

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Wethersfield, CT, United States of America

Orren K Tench