Performance study of low background co-axial HPGe detector

The gamma-ray spectroscopy using highpurity germanium (HPGe) detector is a useful tool for nuclear structure studies. In rare decay studies like neutrinoless double beta decay or search for dark matter, the minimization of background is essential. Hence, identification of the radiative impurities in the detector as well as surrounding elements and elimination of the same to the extent possible, is highly desirable. In such low background measurements, samples often need to be counted in a close geometry to maximise the counting efficiency [1]. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the detector performance over a range of energies and for different counting geometries. A dedicated low background HPGe detector is being setup at IIT Ropar. This setup aims to perform measurements relevant for rare decay studies like Tin.Tin [2]. This paper reports the preliminary results of the characterization of the cryocooled HPGe detector installed at NuStaR Lab of IIT Ropar.