Abstract: | The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) is a European project to develop
and operate the next generation gamma-ray spectrometer. AGATA is based on the
technique of gamma-ray energy tracking in electrically segmented high-purity
germanium crystals. This technique requires the accurate determination of the
energy, time and position of every interaction as a gamma ray deposits its
energy within the detector volume. Reconstruction of the full interaction path
results in a detector with very high efficiency and excellent spectral
response. The realization of gamma-ray tracking and AGATA is a result of many
technical advances. These include the development of encapsulated
highly-segmented germanium detectors assembled in a triple cluster detector
cryostat, an electronics system with fast digital sampling and a data
acquisition system to process the data at a high rate. The full
characterization of the crystals was measured and compared with
detector-response simulations. This enabled pulse-shape analysis algorithms, to
extract energy, time and position, to be employed. In addition, tracking
algorithms for event reconstruction were developed. The first phase of AGATA is
now complete and operational in its first physics campaign. In the future AGATA
will be moved between laboratories in Europe and operated in a series of
campaigns to take advantage of the different beams and facilities available to
maximize its science output. The paper reviews all the achievements made in the
AGATA project including all the necessary infrastructure to operate and support
the spectrometer. |