Position resolution of the prototype AGATA triple-cluster detector from an in-beam experiment

AGATA belongs to a new generation of γ-ray detector arrays for nuclear spectroscopy at present in its final stage of development. The detectors of these new arrays will be based on 36-fold electronically segmented coaxial germanium diodes operated in position sensitive mode. An in-beam test of the AGATA prototype triple cluster detector was carried out with the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of such detectors and in order to measure the most sensitive parameters for their overall performance. An inverse kinematics reaction was performed, using a 48 Ti beam at an energy of 100 MeV, impinging on a deuterated titanium target. The results from the analysis of the experimental data, compared with the predictions of Monte Carlo simulations, give an estimation of the position sensitivity of these detectors of about 5 mm FWHM, consistent with the specifications required. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.