The Heidelberg Dark Matter Search (HDMS) is an experiment designed for the search for WIMP dark matter. It is using a special configuration of Ge detectors, to efficiently reduce the background in the low-energy region below 100 keV. After one year of running the HDMS detector prototype in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory, the inner crystal of the detector has been replaced with a HPGe cry...

We report our results of continuous illumination of Ge46S54 chalcogenide glass films with bandgap light in air. The outcome of this process is the formation of Ge–S backbone depleted in germanium. We relate this to consumption of some of the germanium available in the initial material due to the occurrence of a photoinduced oxidation. This is proved using energy dispersion spectroscopy which sh...

The status of dark matter search in Heidelberg is reviewed. After one year of running the HDMS prototype experiment in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory, the inner crystal of the detector has been replaced with a HPGe crystal of enriched Ge. The results of the operation of the HDMS prototype detector are discussed. In the light of the contradictive results from the CDMS and DAMA experiments...

This study analyses the thermally stimulated luminescence or thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve between 300 and 773 K of germanium-doped silica optical fibre. A main glow peak at 530 K with a characteristic spectral emission centred at 400 nm is found. Both features are particularly suitable for dosimetry. Thus, an investigation by the TL technique of some first clinically relevant features of ...

Within the quest for direct band-gap group IV materials, strain engineering in germanium is one promising route. We present a study of the strain distribution in single, suspended germanium nanowires using nanofocused synchrotron radiation. Evaluating the probed Bragg reflection for different illumination positions along the nanowire length results in corresponding strain components as well as ...

We have investigated the properties of thin copper and germanium layers in view of their use in microstrip gas chambers. It was found that ultra thin germanium layers with thicknesses of about 100 A provide surface resistivities in the order of 10 11 {10 14 /2. Such layers evaporated onto the micro structure of microstrip gas chambers manufactured on plastic or glass supports lead to a gain sta...

Background: To determine the basic physical and dosimetric properties of a new synthetic single-crystal diamond detector and its application for relative small field dosimetry. Materials and Methods: The pre-irradiation dose required to stabilize detector response, dose rate dependence, photon and electron energy dependence, temperature dependence and angular dependence of MicroDiamond detector...

There is increasing interest in germanium detector gamma-ray spectroscopy performed at high and ultra-high count rates. Applications exist in fields as diverse as neutron-activation analysis, post-accident sampling, stack monitoring, and fuelpin scanning. The publication of a recent paper claiming exceptional performance for an ultra-high-count-rate package of instruments is the catalyst for th...

Specific activites of natural (40K, 226Ra and 40Th) anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides in 30 glutinous rice samples bought from some local retailers department stores Songkhla Province have been measured analyzed. Experiment results were carried out by using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector gamma spectrometry analysis system at Radiation Laboratory Thailand Institute Nuclear Technology ...

We report an optical link on silicon using micrometer-scale ring-resonator enhanced silicon modulators and waveguide-integrated germanium photodetectors. We show 3 Gbps operation of the link with 0.5 V modulator voltage swing and 1.0 V detector bias. The total energy consumption for such a link is estimated to be approximately 120 fJ/bit. Such a compact and low power monolithic link is an essen...