THE GAMMASPHERE

GAMMASPHERE is one of a new generation of gamma ray detector arrays. It consists of 110 Compton-supressed large volume Ge detectors. The design goal is to achieve high efficiency and peak-to-total value for four to five fold coincidence experiments. Such high-fold coincidence capability will provide new physics opportunities in areas such as high spins, transfer reactions, giant resonances, and astrophysics. The design of the detector and shield has been developed through extensive simulation calculations and an "electronic honeycomb" design was chosen. The electronics and computer systems are capable of operating at 50,000 event/sec. The design and development tasks are being carried out at several laboratories in the U.S. The project is expected to be funded in the fall of 1990. The first experiment is planned in the summer of 1992.