The AGATA Spectrometer

The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) is a European project to develop and operate a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer. AGATA is based on the technique of gamma-ray energy tracking in electrically segmented high-purity germanium crystals. The tracking 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. AGATA can measure gamma rays from 10's of keV to 10 MeV with excellent efficiency and position resolution and has a very high count rate capability. The realisation of AGATA and gamma-ray tracking is a result of many technical advances. AGATA has operated in a series of successful scientific campaigns at Legnaro National Laboratory in Italy, GSI in Germany and GANIL in France. AGATA is now in its next phase of development as it evolves to the full 4 pi instrument. It is presently starting its next campaign at Legnaro.