Compton polarimetry with a 36-fold segmented HPGe-detector of the AGATA-type

Journal article, 2012

The calibration of a highly-segmented AGATA-type HPGe-detector as a gamma-ray Compton polarimeter and a method for (quasi-)continuous angle Compton polarimetry are presented. The high granularity, combined with the large detection efficiency of the AGATA-type HPGe-crystals, offers a significant advantage for polarization measurements of gamma-radiation. A polarization-directional correlation experiment with gamma-rays from a Co-60 source with an activity of about 680 kBq was used to determine the polarization sensitivity of a single AGATA-type HPGe-crystal at 1173 and 1332 key and to demonstrate the method. The polarization measurement was based on segment information. In our set-up a polarization sensitivity of 19% at 1332 keV has been achieved.